Inspire. Challenge. Entertain. We had all three this week at St Margaret’s College.

The professional dedication of our teachers continues to INSPIRE me, and this week was no exception. A parent information evening outlining the structured literacy programme we have in place to support our early years' education demonstrated our Junior School teacher’s commitment to continuous research and improvement. The panel presentation facilitated by our Middle School team supported a stronger home-school partnership and shared understanding of the challenges facing this special age and stage of our girls; including social media, vaping, brain development, sleep and nutrition. In our Senior School, the excitement is building as faculty teams embrace the opportunity to strengthen our girls’ preparation for Year 12 and 13. This week’s newsletter offers more information on our Foundation Diploma and affirms St Margaret’s position at the forefront of educational innovation.

Last week’s speech finalists certainly offered a CHALLENGE to their audience, encouraging us to rise up and be that person who chooses to do something in support of a better world. Our girls pulled no punches as they presented compelling messages on climate change, mental health, racism and equality. The quality and confidence of the speakers affirmed the benefit of compulsory speech writing up until Year 12 at St Margaret’s, not only in developing the important skills of persuasion and influence, but in supporting student voice and agency in our community.

Finally, Opening Night of The Shakespearean Banquet did so much more than ENTERTAIN. The high energy and contemporary nature of this event offered an incredible theatrical industry experience to our performers and the collaboration with students from Christ’s College and the Cathedral Grammar School enriched the programme. The creative vision of Ms Rossiter and the dramatic expertise of Ms Herd, combined with the extraordinary talent and passion of the wider performing arts faculty, have realised an amazing show. All involved can certainly take a bow.

As always we don’t slow down in the approach to the end of a term, so I look forward to what the remaining fortnight has in store. I am sure it will continue to inspire, challenge and entertain.