FROM THE BOARD

We could never have anticipated how challenging 2020 was going to be for us all. What started as news reports of a new flu-like virus in China rapidly escalated into multiple lockdowns and over 168 days living under stay-at-home directions. For the education sector, this meant a complete pivot from onsite operations into an alternate reality, distance learning on screen. The dedication and commitment shown by our students and staff to their work and each other during this time was truly admirable. In a previous Ruyton Reporter article, I spoke about the importance of care, connection and support as being key through the difficulties of the pandemic. New families often comment on our warm and friendly community culture and the strength of the relationships we build within it. This is something we have a right to be proud of. Accepting the environment of uncertainty created with the pandemic, Ruyton’s school community continued to do what it does best. Care, connection and support were ingrained in the multitude of interactions between students, staff, parents and alumnae. Despite being physically apart, we remained together. I enjoyed watching the daily activities of the School through social media and was especially delighted to see the Community cookbook published at the end of last year, a true display of creativity and collaboration. As a Board, we sincerely thank every single one of you for your continued support and engagement with our school through difficult circumstances. In reflecting on the challenges of last year, we congratulate the Class of 2020 for their outstanding VCE results. We are enormously proud of our Year 12 students and what they have achieved under significant adversity. The grit and sense of endeavour shown is a real reflection of the Ruyton spirit and we look forward to seeing what these impressive young women do as they journey beyond school and make their own mark on the world.

Despite a short snap lockdown in early February, life in 2021 has settled into a ‘COVID-normal’ and the Board is looking to the future with more certainty as we plan the development of our new Strategic Plan for 2022–2025. We will shortly approach the community to become involved in a consultation process for this project and look forward to hearing from those of you who would like to become involved. We are also looking forward to reigniting the development of the Royce Theatre and the Library as we ensure continual improvement of the facilities and grounds, and importantly the learning opportunities available to our girls. With the best wishes of the Board, please enjoy this edition of the Ruyton Reporter and its stories of our wonderful school that are contained within.

Virginia McLaughlan President, The Ruyton Board