Milestones of the past decade

During my years as Principal our school has provided a safe and nurturing environment for our students in which they can grow as young people and receive the excellent education they deserve. With the opening of our Ullmer Sport and Wellbeing Centre we have given attention to the importance of physical activity and sport in the lives of females. Our students have strong participation rates in sport and continue to embrace physical activity when they leave school which is counter to the research which indicates that girls are more likely to move away from physical activity and sport due to low self-confidence and concerns about body image.

In their academic studies, our students continue to excel and move into a broad range of tertiary studies. Over the last ten years we have seen an increase in students choosing to study Mathematics and Science subjects. This movement towards STEM has resulted in more students choosing science, biomedicine, engineering, architecture and other similar courses at tertiary level. While the number of females in these tertiary courses has increased, there remains a gap in STEM based careers for women. Our teachers build confidence and capacity in our students, demonstrating their own passion for STEM subjects and engaging our students in activities which build their confidence and understanding. Girls can do mathematics and science and in a girls’ school we provide this clear message, and our senior students are wonderful role models for our younger students.

Our digital fabrication laboratory and tinkering spaces have provided spaces not only for our students who want to learn more about coding, making and fabrication, but also for those who have a desire to further develop their creative talents in visual communication and design and visual arts. In 2014 when we opened the digital fabrication laboratory, I did not have a vision of how our visual arts curriculum would be enhanced with objects made with the laser cutter or 3-D printers. I am pleased to observe the use of our digital fabrication laboratory by our Prep and Junior School students because they are developing skills which will continue to aid them in the senior years of school.

Our commitment to empowerment

Being surrounded by young people who are articulate and have found their voices, I all too often think this is the case for all girls. Our teachers engage our students in their subject areas by asking questions, setting up collaborative activities, listening to responses and giving time to individuals. These actions promote professional relationships between teachers and students, and as a result, our students find their voice. Cocurricular and student leadership opportunities further enable students to build their confidence and interpersonal skills. I have attended Junior and Senior School Assemblies for nearly fifteen years and every opportunity is given to our students to lead and use their voices. When a student in Prep tells us about a project she has completed, or a group of Year 6 students take responsibility for running an assembly, we are supporting them in all aspects of public speaking. Our Senior School leaders and students demonstrate confidence and skill when they speak at assembly, host the Jazz Cabaret, lead a Prefects meeting or the Student Representative Committee. 

Having observed and spent time with our Year 9 Howqua students over the years, I know the power that the program has to enable significant growth in each student. Surrounded by a beautiful natural environment and within a community of teachers and staff who provide guidance and nurturing, our students have the opportunity to grow in independence, resilience and personal insight. When Howqua was envisioned, the research on outdoor education did not feature the benefits of females completing outdoor activities. In fact, the research inferred that outdoor and adventurous activities was not the domain of females. Fortunately, this has changed over the years, and we have our own insights into the positive effects of a program such as Howqua on the lifelong skills and attributes of females and their ability to transfer them to their studies and daily lives in an urban environment.

Ongoing connection and alumnae success

It has been a privilege to meet with many of our alumnae during my years at Lauriston and each one has provided me with insights into how Lauriston shaped their lives. What is common among our alumnae is a strong sense of self and voices that are unafraid to offer their opinions and views. Recently I was speaking with Jess Detteridge and Lexi Kotzman who completed Year 12 in 2020. These two young people are optimistic about their future careers and lives. They have made the most of their studies, opportunities for travel, maintaining friendships and accepting every opportunity that has been offered to them. Their kindness towards others is evident along with their willingness to use their voice on behalf of themselves or others.

I have the pleasure of meeting alumnae at different stages of their lives. Dr Diana Barker now has her own children who attend Lauriston and she speaks with passion about her Howqua year and the opportunities she had to find her interests and eventual career path. Our senior Old Lauristonians, like Georgie Clegg, who for many years was a member of the OLA committee, tell stories of the lifelong friendships that were formed at Lauriston and how they have managed the obstacles that life brings. These are women who have strength of character and independence which is to be admired. 

As a school, Lauriston has always demonstrated capacity to ‘march forward’. The Irving sisters established our school in the early 1900’s because they believed in the value of educating females. Our school continues to believe in the value of girls’ education not only for our students but for the society in which we live. Our students want to make a contribution to our world and they believe that the education they receive at Lauriston will help them to do so.