Published on: 26 October 2023

  • New Prefects
  • Extraordinary guest speakers
  • Welcoming the new Head of Rites of Passage program

With our Year 12 students now off campus we are a smaller school and have a new group of Prefects learning the student leadership ropes. The entire Senior School had the opportunity to recognise the incoming prefects at this morning’s Prefect Induction Assembly. I am sure they will all rise to the occasion, and as with past years, embrace their portfolio and relish the empowerment.

Recently the Disability Royal Commission released their report. As a school we have a vested interest in their findings and are mapping these against our practices, in particularly in regards to our Peter Moyes Centre.

We are incredibly fortunate to have really amazing people in our community and on Wednesday our Year 5 Preparatory students were treated to a once in a lifetime conversation with American engineer and former NASA astronaut Don Thomas. Courtesy of one of our families, Don phoned in via Microsoft Teams from Washington DC and the boys were captivated from the first moment he spoke. You can read more about it here. Western Australian author Reece Carter also visited the School this week and connected with our Year 4 students and discussed his career and new book. Reece is the best-selling author of ‘A Girl Called Corpse’ and has a new novel out called ‘The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright’. You can read more about his visit here.

There are quite a few events coming up for our Alumni community with the AGM tonight, the awarding of the Young Leaders Award at next Thursday’s Senior School Assembly and Angus Sheldrick is coming to speak at the Preparatory Assembly on Friday 10 November. If you are interested in attending any of the above please contact the Alumni office on 9442 1528.

Our Parents’ Association (PA) are incredibly supportive. Once again, they have assisted various departments with the awarding of PA Grants that help staff seed initiatives which enhance our students’ learning experiences.

Next Wednesday we are looking forward to welcoming Chris Miles to the School. Chris, a past staff member, is joining us for the OQD Sundowner before he starts his role next year as Head of the Rites of Passage program. I look forward to welcoming all of our Year 8 families to the Sundowner and introducing Chris to the entire community before he commences in January 2024.

Alan Jones
Principal