From the Senior School

Living in the Present

If departure is the past and arrival is the future, then the road is the present, and there is nothing more spiritually difficult, or spiritually rewarding, than learning to live significantly in the present. – Leon Wieseltier

The students in the Senior School, in both Years 11 and 12, are in significant moments of transition in their school lives. There is challenge in needing to be living in the moment and, simultaneously planning for the next stage in their lives. Sometimes, it can feel impossible to do both at the same time. Living in the moment has its rewards, but so does thinking about the future. Both of these strategies can rejuvenate us.

Some tips to consider for how to ‘cherish the present moment and chase the future’:

Envision the future you want
Set realistic goals
Savour the moment
Surround yourself with people and things you love.

We would like to pass on our very best wishes to all in Year 12 for their upcoming Trial HSC examinations on Monday. It is important at this stage of the HSC journey that the students have confidence in their preparation and abilities. The Trial examinations are an opportunity to practice skills and exam technique prior to the external assessment and understand areas that need further refinement.

During this time, the students are encouraged to maintain regular routines, practice self- care and realise that by maintaining perspective, they will achieve their best.

Following these exams, there is still plenty of learning to take place, so the girls should be viewing this as an ideal opportunity to receive feedback to extend their learning. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Senior School office should you have any concerns during this period.

Spinning Around!

Last week we learned some new skills with Dr Hadwen. In keeping with our focus on Wrap with Love and the knitting the students have been doing over the past term, Dr Hadwen brought her grandmother’s spinning wheel into the KM building to show us how to spin wool. Using wool from our own Larry the sheep in the Ag plot, the students learnt how to prepare the natural wool and then spin it on the beautiful old wheel! The wheel remains in the KM building and Dr Hadwen is visiting when she can to share the traditional skills with our students!

Jacaranda Award recipients

Congratulations to the following Senior School students who have been awarded a Jacaranda Award. This recognises their modelling of the College values.

Year 11

Saskia Raymond, Lucinda Woodfield, Susannah Su, Annabelle Cockle, Megan Wood, Alyssa Yip, Bella Jones, Young Cho, Xanthe Uther, Matilda Batman, Piper Gregory-Reid, Yuki Wang, Sally Cooper, Georgia Bicego and Sophie Beadman.

Year 12

Emma Lau, Laura Crocker, Jessica Colbran, Arabella Hunt, Kristina Pilkington, McKenzie Ward, Aimee Ng, Saskia Willoughby- Winlaw, Jemima Burney, Ashley de Lambert-McHutchison, Sophie van Kerkwijk, Dhiya Arun.

NAIDOC Assembly

My sincerest thanks and congratulations to all students involved in the NAIDOC assembly this week. We all enjoyed some wonderful dancing and singing, personal stories and celebrations of inspiring female elders who have been changemakers. The smoking ceremony as we departed the assembly was a wonderful way to conclude a thoughtful and powerful presentation.