On Monday and Tuesday of this week all Lowther Hall staff came together for a time of professional learning and preparation for the return of the girls in Term 3. At this time of the year, we have a particular focus on our shared responsibility for keeping children safe, and in 2022, with the recent implementation of a new set of Child Safe Standards, we were keen to reaffirm and extend our commitment to making Lowther Hall a place where our girls can feel secure – culturally, emotionally, socially and physically. The new standards have an expanded focus on ensuring safety for students from diverse backgrounds, which resonates with the Lowther Hall values of inclusion and respectful relationships. The Standards also emphasise the importance of engaging the whole school community in the promotion of child safety and in the embedding of child wellbeing into our culture. I hope that you feel that through our information evenings, LowtherLink news items, weekly Blogs, regular publications and through the policies on our website, that you have a clear picture of the many ways in which the welfare of the girls is at the centre of all that we do. I invite you to continue to contact us about anything that you feel needs our attention in this regard and I thank you for your ongoing engagement in this space.
The term is already off to a flying start, with sport training, music rehearsals, debating meetings, tournament of minds preparation and leadership workshops all up and running alongside the regular regime of classroom learning! I have very much enjoyed hearing about the adventures that some families have had during the break – with many girls recounting trips interstate or overseas (and often the associated negotiation of cancelled flights and airport delays) with great enthusiasm and joy. Back at school as we make our way through winter, I know that the vicissitudes of COVID will continue to plague us for some time yet and I thank you for your ongoing patience as we manage teacher and student absences. Despite that, however, there is a distinct feeling of optimism and anticipation of the experiences that are due to unfold in the coming weeks, and I can’t wait to share them all with you and your girls!
Ms Elisabeth Rhodes
Principal