FROM THE PRINCIPAL

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

It has been my privilege to lead St Hilda’s in 2021 – a year of anniversary commemorations as we reached the impressive milestone of 125 years. Our many celebrations have enabled us to connect with our current, past and future communities, from combined musical events, special assemblies, chapel services, and a memorable Gala night, all filled with the sharing of historical stories, memories and defining moments that have, together, shaped the St Hilda’s we know and love today. This year we have remembered the past, embraced the present and planned for the future. It has been a year of transformation for staff and students. We commenced the year with the launch of St Hilda’s Reimagined, our strategic intent with the 2030 graduates in mind. Our new school values – Excellence, Belonging, Authenticity and Imagination have been warmly embraced by students and staff. We boldly transitioned into a period of strategic renewal and revitalisation with a growth mindset and a can-do attitude. Adaptability has been key. Together we developed new strategic priorities and initiatives designed to ensure that St Hilda’s continues to maximise performance while identifying new growth opportunities for students and staff. St Hilda’s is a school with a long and proud history; however, we have demonstrated this year that we are ready and evolving to meet the future needs of students and the changing educational landscape. Staff, parents and students have witnessed many changes and shown their unwavering support. Change is not always easy, however we were reminded of the importance of schools to adapt and reimagine at the recent launch of a 2022 initiative - “The strength of an organisation comes from its stories and traditions, but the future of an organisation rests in its relevance and innovation” (mccrindle.com.au). COVID-19 has undoubtedly been a catalyst for change, particularly in education. It has presented opportunities to reflect on our teaching and learning and to broaden our thinking in embracing new innovations. Technology has been highlighted as an essential part of the educational environment this year and, while it will never supersede faceto-face teaching, it has a part to play in enhancing our girls’ learning. The appointment of a Director of Learning Reimagined has been pivotal in planning for a new learning platform in which our staff and students can learn anywhere and at any time. The school transitioned to a Student Assigned Learning Model (SALD) this year ensuring that we are ready for what the future holds as we continue to navigate our way through the global pandemic. Our commitment to STEAM was

ST HILDA’S IS A SCHOOL WITH A LONG AND PROUD HISTORY; HOWEVER, WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED THIS YEAR THAT WE ARE READY AND OPEN TO CHANGE TO MEET THE FUTURE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE CHANGING EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE

emphasised in the launch of ESSTEAM (Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics), an innovative program being piloted in Years 5,6 and a Year 10 elective class in 2022 with full implementation planned for 2023 (Years 5-10). ESSTEAM will connect our students with real life problems and learning opportunities across many disciplinary areas. The appointment of a Director of Discovery to lead this program and deliver on our ‘Beyond St Hilda’s’ agenda has been key to our investment in this pioneering approach to education. We have looked beyond the school walls this year and partnered with UWA and Curtin University to enrich and extend the experiences of students at St Hilda’s. Positive connections with industry have also resulted in corporate scholarships and new real-life learning opportunities. We launched a partnership with Madalah Ltd at the end of 2020 and welcomed eleven Indigenous students to St Hilda’s and to our Boarding House. The Madalah students have been a wonderful addition to our community. It has been a joy to see them embrace the privilege of a St Hilda’s education and discover new strengths and new interests in a world of opportunities. Our Year 9 cohort were the first group of students to experience our 12-month wellbeing and belonging program called The Wandering Spirit. This program focusses on exploring identity, personal relationships, authentic resilience and empowering our girls to uncover their vision for their future. A retreat to our regional campus ‘Yeagarup’ in Pemberton was a highlight of the program. Due to the generous donation of the School’s Foundation, construction commenced at Yeagarup to expand the campus offerings to include accommodation for Years 5-7 Outdoor Education programs, curriculum and cocurricular activities. Our regional campus has enabled the School to consider new curriculum and wellbeing programs that allow the girls to connect with nature, disengage temporarily from the fast-paced lives they lead, and learn more about themselves and others. As you explore the many articles and insights into St Hilda’s momentum and achievements throughout the year, you will see that the spirit of St Hilda’s is very much alive in 2021. Thank you for being a part of our community this year and for your unwavering support of the School.

Fiona Johnston Principal