From the Head of Senior School

Parent Information Evening: This Week’s Highlights

Last Tuesday evening, we hosted our New Parent Information Evening for families joining the Senior School in Year 8 to Year 11. The event was a great opportunity for our new parents to connect with key staff, gain insights into our academic and wellbeing programs, and feel warmly welcomed into our School community. Our current Year 6 parents were welcomed into the Senior Centre as part of our transition program as their daughters integrate into the Senior School.

The families heard from Al Roland, Head of Students – Year 7 to Year 9, Fiona Pow, Head of Students – Year 10 to Year 12, Emily Marsh, Head of Year 7 2026. Danielle Rodrigues, Acting Deputy Head of Senior School – Academic Year 10 to Year 12, David Posker-Hill, Acting Deputy Head of Senior School – Academic Year 7 to Year 9 and Marianna Carlino, Director of eLearning, presented about our academic program and Sarah Jauncey, our Director of Experiential Learning, introduced the co-curricular program. A reminder to all, that you are welcome to attend the Co-curricular Expo on Friday 21 November 2025 to consider enrolments for 2026.

During the session on Wellbeing, Emily canvassed the Circle Solutions program that is a tool that is used in our Luminary sessions as part of our Pastoral care program. The Circle Solutions program plays a vital role in fostering a sense of belonging and emotional wellbeing among students. These sessions provide a safe and supportive environment where pupils can share their thoughts and listen to the experiences of others, building strong connections across year groups. Circle Solutions is based on the ASPIRE principles:

• Agency: Participants are given structured opportunities to take decisions on things that concern them and responsibility for making things happen. Students themselves build a positive emotional climate for learning
• Safety: No-one has to say anything if they do not feel confident or ready to do so. Safety is also enhanced by discussing issues not incidents and by using the third person. Activities are in pairs, groups or the whole Circle
• Positivity: The focus is on strengths and solutions – what we want, rather than what we want to get rid of. Circles actively promote positive feelings, including laughter. This enhances emotional resources and connectedness
• Inclusion: There is an expectation that everyone will work with everyone else. No one is left out and all are encouraged (without pressure) to join in. Every person is important to the group
• Respect: Participants listen to each other and do not take up more than a fair share of attention. There are only personal positives and no put downs.
• Equity: Everyone has an equal voice, no one person can dominate. Faciliators participate in all activities.

Emily shared some quotes from our current Year 7 students about Luminary time:

‘I enjoyed connecting with other people during Luminary and getting to play fun and engaging games during circle activities.’

‘I liked the opportunities in Luminary to listen to other people’s stories and experiences.’

‘I liked playing the circle games as they helped me to feel connected to everyone in my Luminary.’

‘I enjoyed the circle reflection activities because they gave me a chance to share my thoughts, listen to others, and they helped me feel more connected with my classmates.’

Study Hub Next Week

– Joanna Graffen
Head of Senior School