FROM THE PRINCIPAL

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Education changes lives.

Anyone who knows me well, is aware that I am deeply passionate about closing the opportunity gap for girls and young women.

The possibilities are endless for young women at this critical juncture of global social change. I believe that girls and young women need to recognise their intelligence, strengths and ambitions, beginning when they are developing their understanding of who they are, what they believe in and the values they align with.

Over the last two years, we have launched many new partnerships and built on existing ones to foster strong networks that benefi t our girls today, tomorrow and in the future.

We are privileged to partner with excellent boys schools that give our girls exposure to new programs, buildings and most importantly relationships. Initiatives such as the Year 8 Co-ed Outdoor Education program with Christ Church and the Rowing partnership with Scotch are two examples of how working with others can build mutual and respectful opportunities that benefi t everyone. One of the most exciting initiatives launched this year was our ESSTEAM pilot program in Years 5 and 6. Watching our educators adapt to a new way of teaching and our girls immersing themselves in this new curriculum has been so rewarding.

The creation of an ESSTEAM Studio on our Bay View campus will commence in July this year and will be replicated in essence at the Chidley campus in 2023. Thank you to our donors including Foundation and Council for enabling this to happen. Watch this space, I believe it is a game-changer in education.

Also taking shape is our Heritage Centre. Our team has been busy behind the scenes working with our architect on the plans and we anticipate completion in 2023. Again thank you to our Foundation, Parents’ and Friends’ Association, Old Scholars Association and school community for their generous contributions.

In May, St Hilda’s School Council made two major announcements, the appointment of Anna Casellas as the Chair of Council and the extension of my contract at St Hilda’s. I would like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing Chair Nita Peploe for her leadership on a number of important strategic developments over the last 7 years. I am energised and motivated to continue my work with Anna, the School Council and school community for another fi ve years. This review would not be complete without mentioning the disruption that COVID has had on our community, particularly in schools.

In preparation for borders opening and the tight close contact restrictions we experienced initially, we off ered families a Hybrid Learning Model. Our newly appointed, Director of Learning ReImagined worked closely with teachers to lead the way in delivering this program. It delivered learning into the homes of our community when entire families were forced to isolate due to COVID. My genuine thanks goes to every classroom teacher who was asked to deliver this mode of teaching. It is taxing, especially when your health is at risk and they have all gone above and beyond to be there for our students.

I’d also like to thank those on our team who work behind the scenes. Our Psychologists who have supported families through a very stressful period; our relief staff and those organising relief – they’ve never been so busy; our Administrators and our Facilities staff . Everyone has had to work doubly hard to cover for staff illness and the complex process of adjusting programs due to government restrictions.

Our students have continued to show enormous resilience. Teaching has been disrupted, as it has been across the world. But St Hilda’s girls are committed learners and this has shone through in the last six months. For those who will get to visit our regional campus in Yeagarup in Semester Two, I’m sure it will be worth the wait.

Finally, I’d also like to thank Old Scholar, Ammbi Muir, who was the face of our Annual Giving campaign this year. Meeting women like Ammbi, who have the ability, the persistence and the potential to make an impact in the world, reinforces to me the great fortune and opportunity that comes with a St Hilda’s education.

It is an absolute privilege to serve the St Hilda’s community and together, we can continue to spark extraordinary futures for our girls.

Fiona Johnston Principal