From the Senior School

From our Head of Senior School

What a huge final week to end a very busy, and very strange, Term 3. This week we have enjoyed the Year 11 Leadership Assembly. Congratulations to all those students who have formal positions of leadership and to the whole Year 12 2022 cohort who will all lead the College next year as our most senior girls.

I would also like to acknowledge all those students who applied for positions and were unsuccessful at this time. There are a number of new roles in the revised leadership structure, and I would encourage girls to review these roles and consider other opportunities to make their contributions in areas which are of interest to them.

It is also a very appropriate time for me to thank the outgoing Year 12 students and the graduating leadership team for the way you have all led the girls during some of the most challenging of times. Your commitment to stay connected to your teachers and other girls, your ongoing engagement with Co-curricular activities and your obvious pride in your College has been contagious. Prior to online learning, the Prefects of 2021 led a number of highly successful and engaging activities over the course of the year and your legacy is something which you can be very proud of.

We are also saying the first of our farewells to our Year 12 girls this week. On Thursday afternoon, the Year 12 girls will participate in a lot of fun with many emotions at our final Year 12 Assembly and then on Friday, the College will all take part in your Graduation Assembly. This is so far from what all of us imagined and planned for this wonderful group of girls and if we could wave a wand to change our circumstance, we would do so. We have some more plans to celebrate your achievements and honour your contributions when we return next term. As always, activities are dependent on COVID-19 restrictions but there are some fun times planned. This week, Year 12 families will also receive a booklet outlining the schedule of classes and activities for Year 12 students before their final HSC examinations.

To all our Senior School families, please take care over the term break and find some time to enjoy this lovely time of the year. After a term of online classes and online examinations, and working so hard to stay involved, you all deserve this break. From all the members of the Senior School team, your good wishes and support over this very unpredictable term have been so much appreciated. We are all really looking forward to seeing each other when we return to campus.

Mrs Nikki Wyse

Head of Senior School

From the Heads of Year 11

It has been a very busy few weeks for Year 11 as they completed their ‘end of year’ examinations. It was, by all accounts, a success. We were so pleased to see how resilient the girls were in overcoming the challenging of completing them online. They showed their ability to adapt to the change and rise to the challenge and they should be very proud of their achievements!

A huge congratulations to our 2022 leadership team, all of the girls should be honoured and excited at the opportunity that their new positions offer them. We know they will be eager to begin next term and to plan amazing events and opportunities for their respective portfolios. Moving into Year 12 is an exciting time and we want all the girls to embrace the challenges that it brings and celebrate their successes.

As we move into the holidays, we want the girls to take the time to unwind, relax and take some time out for themselves. There are a range of mindful activities that the girls can take up over the break, or they can keep up with the one that they are already engaged in, we know knitting is very popular! However, if knitting is not for you, why not try something new: baking, picking up that book you’ve been meaning to read or trying art at home! Whatever they choose we hope this break is a well-deserved reset.

We look forward to welcoming the girls back in Term 4 as bright shiny Year 12 students and ready to hit the ground running.

Mr Andrew Heggie

Head of Year 11 (Acting)

Mrs Theresa Mimmo

Head of Year 11

From our Heads of Year 12

In 2013 Professor George Saunders gave a memorable commencement speech to the graduating class at Syracuse University which can be viewed and read online. He spoke about the things we remember once we leave school and he framed part of his talk around some of his few regrets, the central one for him being what he called his “failures of kindness”. He went on to clarify these as “those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded . . . sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly”.

He reflected, “Who, in your life, do you remember most fondly, with the most undeniable feelings of warmth?”

As our Year 12 complete their formal schooling we are proud to say we and their teachers have been the gracious recipients of many acts of kindness and compassion from our girls, and we know they will continue to pass this and our other College Values on to people they meet in their future lives. We wish Year 12 well and look forward to welcoming them back for their learning and final examinations in Term 4.