Principal's Perspective

"We provide an education that prepares our girls for a future filled with possibilities and inspires them to have courage, persist in the face of challenge, and find their place in the world.”

Our current Year 6 students were born in the same yearthat the first iPad was released. Since that time, we haveseen the continued rapid progress of technology. Wenow see individuals in our society being impacted by therise of prediction, where algorithms and AI will pre-emptively providethem with newsfeeds, products and services before they even know theywant them.

Within the context of rapidly changing technology, significant changesin employment, and a landscape of social and political problems whichwill continue to impact our world, we have been thinking about how ourSchool can continue to best prepare our girls and young women to leaddifficult conversations and make meaningful and impactful contributionsto the broader society in their lives and careers.

I wonder what the Irving sisters would have to say about theresponsibilities placed on schools today in educating young people?

Not only do we have the responsibility for the provision of a curriculum and the development of “employability” skills such as collaboration and empathy, but we must ensure that our students’ digital skills enable them to find future employment opportunities and allow them to ethically navigate their way through the myriad content now available through the internet. Schools have become central to the overall wellbeing of young people, with the responsibility of developing resilience to manage and adapt to change.

As we begin our 120th year, we are focusing on our priorities movingforward as a School, whilst reflecting on lessons learned from the past,particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The concept of the teacherstanding in front of the classroom while students listen and respond todirection is not one that enables our students to become effective andlifelong learners.

Our teachers are expert in their subject disciplines, but they alsoundertake considerable hours of professional learning which supportsthem in engaging with their students, promoting curiosity andfacilitating learning, whether through direct teaching or blendedlearning approaches.

During 2021 our teachers in the Junior School will focus on theteaching of Mathematics, while both Junior and Senior School teacherswill begin their participation in the Quality Teacher Rounds program,which provides a teacher-driven framework that enables participantsto analyse and improve their practice. We continue to drive thedevelopment of digital skills and the use of various platforms forcommunication between teachers and students.

In Term 1 we began our work of reviewing assessment and gradingfor all students. Our aim is to ensure that students and parents clearlyunderstand the academic progress made throughout each term andhow this can be improved.

Community and a sense of belonging are key to our success as a School, and we have seen many examples of the strength of our Lauriston community already this year in the Anniversary Picnic, Autumn Concert, Blairholme Picnic Day, and various other events. Sport has recommenced and we have seen increased participation in both competitive sport and recreational activities. Student participation in co-curricular music ensembles and choirs, along with the introduction of more music performance opportunities for our students are also a priority. Our Community Service strategy has gone from strength to strength as students, staff and parents are actively engaged in activities and fundraisers that support those in the community who have felt the impact of the pandemic. Our students have commenced the year with involvement in co-curricular activities and clubs as wide-ranging as Greenies, Girl-Up, Model UN and Coding. Tertiary institutes and employers are looking for young people who can demonstrate 21st-century skills – knowledge, aptitudes and experiences– beyond their ATAR study score, and participation in these co-curricular activities and clubs provides many opportunities to develop these skills. In addition, Lauriston Creds, our micro-credentialling program launched last year, enables our students to earn “digital badges” that recognise these skills.

Our Year 9 Howqua program is a milestone year for our students, and this year’s review of the program will help us continue to meet the needs of our future students and support them in exploring their identity, building relationships, and giving them the courage and resilience to step outside their comfort zone and engage fully in life and learning.

Like the Irving sisters, our vision to educate young woman is the driver behind our decision-making and initiatives at Lauriston. We provide an education that prepares our girls for a future filled with possibilities and inspires them to have courage, persist in the face of challenge, and find their place in the world.

Susan Just, Principal