Farewell to Principal Marise McConaghy

Change is an inevitable part of life, and sometimes it requires bidding farewell to remarkable individuals who have left an indelible mark on our journey. It is with mixed emotions that I accepted the resignation of Marise McConaghy, who has dedicated nearly a decade of her life to the betterment of Strathcona Girls Grammar. Marise leaves us at the end of August to embark first on her sabbatical and then continue her career as Principal of Queenwood in Sydney.

Marise’s passion, dedication and transformative vision has revolutionised Strathcona’s curriculum and extra-curricular design. She has fostered an environment where girls and staff feel truly unstoppable and empowered to be their very best.

Marise’s leadership has also garnered prestigious accolades for Strathcona. Our School has been recognised with numerous awards in STEM, innovative curriculum design, and well-being. This recognition is a testament to Marise’s unwavering commitment to excellence and her unrelenting pursuit of innovation in girls’ education.

Under Marise’s stewardship, Strathcona’s response to the unprecedented COVID pandemic was outstanding, resulting not only in the maintenance of enrolment numbers but also enhancing the School’s reputation by provision of exceptional online education and pastoral care.

By fostering resilience, empathy, and self-care, Marise has instilled a deep sense of belonging and support systems within Strathcona. She has set the stage for the next Principal of Strathcona to lead us into our centenary and beyond.

On behalf of the Board and the whole school community, thank you Marise, for everything you have done for Strathcona and very best wishes as you embark on the next chapter.

JOCELYN FURLAN Board Chair

At the heart of the School’s mission is not only a commitment to delivering a broad-based liberal education, but also to the development of thoughtful, ethical citizens — women of strong character who go on to contribute to the world with wisdom, imagination and integrity.

Why is character development so important to us? We believe that a person’s character is the foundation of their success and fulfillment, both personally and professionally. When students leave our School, they will enter a world that is more complex, diverse, and interconnected than ever before. To thrive in this environment, they need more than just knowledge and skills. They need to be able to think critically, communicate effectively, and make ethical decisions. These are the qualities that will enable them to lead and inspire others, to solve complex problems, and to make a positive impact on society.

Thus, at Strathcona, we believe that character development should be a core part of our educational program and we provide a range of opportunities for our students to develop in this way, including service-learning projects as well as opportunities for social service and leadership development. Emphasis is placed on how each student treats others and we encourage them to be self-reflective, empathetic and to learn and problem solve collaboratively. We remain committed to providing a holistic education that nurtures the whole person. The curriculum is designed to cultivate not only academic skills but also social and emotional competencies.

After the extended lockdowns, great importance has been placed on the constant strengthening of the partnership with parents in the work of raising young people to adulthood. Building a strong community has been a focus over the past twelve months within the School and its stakeholders as well as the in the wider world around us. We are fortunate to have a strong parent and alumnae network who want to contribute to the development of the next generation of girls and women. Our School is part of the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia which comprises of 185 member schools. This means we are part of a community of like-minded educators who network and share ideas about the education of girls and young women. As President of this Alliance, I have been liaising with our North American equivalent and a merger between Alliance and this entity has now taken effect so that we are part of an International Coalition of Girls’ Schools. This will unite 550 girls’ schools across 21 countries, representing more than 350,000 students.

As the School approaches its centenary, we feel strong and continue to be committed to keeping pace with the changing world around us. We understand that the challenges our students will face in the future will be different from those faced by previous generations. That is why we are continually adapting our education program to ensure that it is relevant, contemporary, and forward-looking. I hope you enjoy the pages of this edition of Strathcourier which reflects some of the many activities that are part of school life at Strathcona.

Sadly, this is my final written piece for the Strathcourier . This wonderful community has been the backdrop to countless memories, milestones and achievements. Together we have faced challenges such as the pandemic, and have witnessed the growth and transformation of our students and celebrated their remarkable achievements.

Throughout my time as Principal, I have had the privilege of working alongside dedicated educators, professional staff, board members, passionate students and supportive families who have made Strathcona the exceptional School it is today. Together, we strived for excellence, nurtured young minds and created an authentic environment that fosters a love of learning, resilience and compassion. The memories I take with me will remain imprinted on my heart forever — thank you.