This week, we are officially launching the 2018 Parents and Friends' Association Twilight Festival, and I am confident that it is going to be spectacular! A great deal of work has already gone into the planning of stalls and entertainment and we are particularly looking forward to spreading out the rides across the new grassed area adjacent to Raymond House and the multipurpose court, giving plenty of space to move around and a chance to provide a range of rides for all ages!​

It has been an amazing week and a half! The Fundraising afternoon last Friday was a great success and the girls had a ball, while raising money for some very worthwhile causes. Thank you to the Prefects for their organisation of this event and to all the staff who supported it. In addition, we have had visitors to the Mansion for Open House Melbourne, Raymond House and Blinkbonnie House Learning Conferences, the Principal’s Soiree, the Lowther Hall Society Lunch, the Winter Strings Festival and all the other regular things that go on: all things that make Lowther Hall the wonderful place it is!

​Our Mansion will be open to the public this weekend for 'Open House Melbourne'. Built in 1890, the Mansion (formerly Earlsbrae Hall) remains one of the finest examples of documented works of architects Lawson and Grey.

It was wonderful to welcome everyone back to school on Wednesday. As usual we commenced the term with an assembly for all students from Kindergarten to Year 12 and Ms Tracy Healy (Deputy Principal) and I were proud to talk to the girls about the ways in which we had shared the School’s world class leadership and cross-age programs with a global audience during our recent trip to America.

​Thank you to everyone who has helped to make Term 2 such a success. Teachers, girls, student leaders and parents have all played a part in bringing enthusiasm, a willingness to get involved and a generosity of spirit to Lowther Hall over the last 10 weeks.

​This week I am in Washington DC with Deputy Principal, Ms Tracy Healy, presenting at the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools Global Forum on Girls’ Education. Our presentation is titled “Girls Leading Girls” and highlights the world class cross-age programs that we have in place at Lowther Hall.

​Seeing the Senior School Production of Annie this week has again confirmed how worthwhile it is for girls to be involved in cocurricular pursuits. The benefits that come from working as part of a team, learning new skills and being part of something rewarding are undeniable.

I was most impressed last Friday to peruse the various posters, models, experiments and inventions which had been created for the Blinkbonnie House and Raymond House Science Fair.

Last week I attended a 2 day forum on Anglican Schooling in Australia where I was fortunate to sit around the table with Archbishops, Bishops, School Principals and Chaplains from around the country, discussing the role of faith, reason, pluralism, service and character development within Anglican Schools today.

​This week our girls in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 have undertaken the National Assessment Program testing in Literacy And Numeracy (NAPLAN). At this time of year there is often media coverage of debate about the value of such tests and whether they are counterproductive for students, causing unnecessary stress for insufficient gain.