A sense of belonging

As the Overseas Student Leader at Strathcona, I am delighted to be a member of such an inclusive and multicultural community that offers a range of activities to enhance the involvement of our international cohort.

Starting with the celebration of Chinese New Year and continuing with a variety of other events including the recent ‘Connect to Campus’ program; as a leader, I find this program particularly valuable. ‘Connect to Campus’ offered an opportunity for me to introduce my role in supporting overseas students to the broader community, as well as gaining a clearer understanding of how we can better support them and make their experiences at Strathcona more inclusive and connected.

By openly communicating with students from Year 7 to 12, we encouraged students of all cultural backgrounds to share their opinions and ideas and encouraged them to suggest ways to incorporate their traditional celebrations into our School community. The delicious treats of fortune cookies not only provided a sweet takeaway for students with warm words to light up everyone’s day, but also fostered connection between peers.

CANDY WU

Student Leader

We take great pride in creating an inclusive and empowering environment for all our students, celebrating their individual backgrounds. The Chinese New Year celebration was an excellent example of how our School community can come together to build connections and foster cultural understanding. Activities such as paper cutting, school decorating, Chinese film watching, and the delicious lunch provided by the School, all contributed to a memorable and educational experience for our students.

This event not only provided an opportunity for our Chinese students to share their customs with their peers, but also feel a sense of belonging and pride in their culture. Through the promotion of cultural understanding and appreciation, nonChinese students are also encouraged to develop a broader worldview and appreciation for diversity.

Building connections and promoting cultural understanding is essential for our School. We ensure that our students from overseas are fully integrated into the School community, providing opportunities to connect with their peers through extracurricular activities, clubs, and sports teams. Through these activities, our International Students can develop their skills, build networks, and make lasting connections with their peers. We recognise the importance of celebrating our community’s diversity by promoting cross-cultural awareness and global citizenship. The Chinese New Year celebration was just one fantastic example of how the students can come together and build relationships and connection. I look forward to continuing to support our overseas cohort to achieve their academic and personal goals and empower them to become the next generation of global citizens.

HANNAH PEACE International Student Coordinator

In life there are moments when we must bid adieu to a chapter that has profoundly shaped us. After 14 remarkable years at Strathcona, the time has come to bid farewell to one of our esteemed educators, Ross Phillips. Teacher, member of the Senior Leadership Team, past parent and good friend to Strathcona.

For 14 and a half years, Ross has graced the classrooms at Strathcona imparting his wisdom, kindness and fostering a love for science, the envy of other schools. His commitment to education has been unwavering, as evidenced by the multitude of roles he has taken on throughout his tenure. From teaching Year 7 to 10 Mathematics and Science, to guiding Year 11 students through the intricacies of Physics, Mr Phillips’ expertise has illuminated the path of STEM exploration for numerous students forging impressive career paths for young women.

Ross has been a visionary leader as a member of the Senior Leadership Team and in his role as Senior Dean of Learning Futures. Throughout his time at Strathcona, Ross has consistently demonstrated his dedication to research, analysis, academic growth and wellbeing of our students.