From the Head of Learning and Teaching – The Power of Words

Margaret Atwood once wrote, ‘A word after a word after a word is power.’ At our School, we see the truth of this every day. From our youngest learners to our Year 12 graduates, we strive to build confidence in our young women to communicate clearly, in both speech and writing. Developing a strong voice is not just an academic skill, it is vital for our girls to flourish as agents of change in the world.

This week, I was privileged to watch our Year 12 Extension English 2 students share their powerful major works. These projects, the culmination of a year of independent composition, took many forms – performance poetry, short stories, critical essays, films, and original poetry collections. Each student spoke candidly about the challenges, joys, and frustrations of the creative process, supported every step of the way by our outstanding English teachers, Joe Pfeiffer and Elizabeth King. What struck me most was the way each girl found her identity in her writing and took ownership of her learning. The passion in the room was palpable.

On the very same day, I was honoured to serve as a judge for the Year 11 Interdisciplinary Collaborative Sciences Project. Teams of students presented their inquiries into topics ranging from the energy consumed by artificial intelligence to the benefits of AI in the health system. They crafted research questions, collected and analysed data, and drew insightful conclusions – all of which had to be communicated to an audience in just four minutes. It was a lesson in clarity, confidence, and precision.

The previous evening, our debaters demonstrated their stunning oratory and rhetorical skills, winning the highly esteemed Archdale Competition. Their ability to listen, think critically, and speak persuasively was inspiring.

Across these experiences, one theme shone through: the power of words. Whether in writing, debate, or scientific inquiry, words are the tools our girls use to shape ideas, connect with others, and create change. Parents can nurture this at every age, by encouraging storytelling in the early years, engaging in conversations about the world, and supporting their daughters to take risks in public speaking and writing.

Atwood reminds us that words build upon one another to create meaning and momentum. We are proud that our girls are learning to harness that power and to use it with confidence, creativity, and courage.

How Parents Can Support Their Daughter’s Voice

• Encourage storytelling: ask your child to share about their day or invent imaginative stories.
• Model confidence: let them hear you speak up in everyday contexts.
• Celebrate effort, not just polish: praise their willingness to express ideas, even when imperfect.
• Create opportunities: whether it’s reading aloud, presenting at the dinner table, or speaking in community forums, practice builds confidence.
• Listen deeply: show that their words matter by giving your full attention.

– Melissa McMahon
Head of Learning and Teaching