Mathematical Mindsets

STRATHCONA GIRLS GRAMMAR

PERSONAL STORIES

IT’S PERSONAL EMILY HARLE, YEAR 12

I moved to Strathcona in 2019, and I was immediately struck by the warm atmosphere within the school; the teachers at TC were so accommodating and kind, and all the girls said “Hi” and introduced themselves to me in the halls. At Strathy I have found lifelong friends, who kept me going through the last couple of years, as well as feeling supported by the teachers to achieve my very best. I was humbled to be elected by my peers as the Issues and Action Leader for 2022. Without the encouragement from my family, friends, and teachers, I do not think I would have had the confidence to put my hand up and run for the position. I believe that this confidence will be a lifelong asset and allow me to navigate the working world with strength, determination, and courage.

JULIE DREW, REGISTRAR

Your daughter is unique with her own personal strengths and talents. She deserves every opportunity to realise her potential. It is my privilege as Registrar to help you make the best possible choice for your daughter’s schooling. Being a teacher and a parent myself, I truly understand the importance of the decision you are making. You want her to be happy, to be motivated, to be challenged and to be supported by caring friends and teachers. You want an education that is more than the classroom programs.

You want opportunities for your daughter to participate in sports, creative arts, special interest groups and in community service. You want her to grow in confidence, to develop a life-long love of learning and to become part of a vibrant connected community that will remain a part of her life beyond school.

My role is so rewarding — one that is a pleasure because I believe wholeheartedly in Strathy. I love meeting you as a new family, assisting with tours of the campus, answering questions and facilitating the enrolment process. I love meeting your daughter at Orientation events and later seeing her in the classrooms and playgrounds as a happy and engaged ‘girl unstoppable’.

RAFFAELA SKOURLETOS (’17)

My time at Strathy was deeply personal in the way that it drastically shaped the person I am today. It taught me that, as a woman, it is not just accepted but expected to live boldly, to dream wildly, and to strive to reach your greatest potential. This attitude grew from the empowering relationships I shared with teachers who were never afraid to push my peers and I to do our very best. This attitude flourished in an environment where my friends and I fiercely supported each other through each of our endeavours, our pitfalls, and our successes.

This attitude is the reason why I, and many students before (and after) me, have dared to leap into life after school knowing that when you bump into your English teacher in the supermarket and update her on your life, she will still be cheering you on as though you had just finished your Year 12 English exam.

I remember reflecting on the six years of my life that I had spent at Strathy and realised that this school had become a second home. In this home, I met some of the best friends and role models I could have hoped for and shared unforgettable experiences that bound us together. To say I am grateful for Strathcona is an understatement — to say it played an integral part in my identity and path is probably more accurate.