Congratulations to our Year 8 girls who are the only students in Australia to have received a perfect score in their category of CSIRO's computational and algorithmic thinking competition - the 'Bebras Challenge'. Well done, Juliet, Liliana, Alice, and Niyati!

As we head into the Federal election on the weekend, I have been reflecting on the privilege we have to be part of a democracy. Whilst we might be frustrated with some of the behaviour of our politicians, or we might have strong preferences in terms of where our own political allegiances lie, there is no denying that we are fortunate to live in a country where we each have a voice, where we can enjoy robust debate about a range of issues and where, on the whole, we are represented by individuals who want our country to thrive.

This week I have enjoyed spending some time with the Year 7 girls and staff on camp. As usual, the girls threw themselves into the experience and enjoyed broadening their connections across the year level and challenging themselves in various activities.

Congratulations to our Lowther Hall Big Band for their second place win at the Mt Gambier 'Generations in Jazz' Festival! The girls competed against hundreds of students from schools around Australia over the weekend in this popular and prestigious event.

I am enjoying catching up with families at Learning Conferences as they occur across the School in these first few weeks of term.

​It has been wonderful to welcome the girls back to Term 2 this week. As usual they have impressed me with their enthusiasm for all that school life has to offer.

One of the many ways we connect Old Grammarians with current Lowther students is by holding guest speaker events. The annual Year 7 'Lowther Stories' morning provides girls with the opportunity to hear about life as a Lowther girl from Old Grammarians who attended our School from the 1930s to the 1990s. Thank you Anne, Mary, Lois, and Sarah!

​Term 1 has ended in a wonderfully positive manner today with the commissioning of Reverend Fiona Raike by Bishop Kate Prowd.

As I write this week, I am at a conference examining best practice in education and research relating to teaching and learning. It is always invigorating to take the position of a learner for a few days and to hear from experts and other practitioners about new ways in which we can continue to provide an education that ensures every girl has a relevant and purposeful experience in every subject every day!

​At this time of year I meet with each Year 12 student in her House group to hear how the year has begun and to receive feedback about the classes and programs that the girls are undertaking. It is always a delight to touch base with the girls and share time together with them. I am incredibly impressed with the focussed and productive start to the year that the girls have made. They are managing their time effectively and engaging with their subjects in a very mature and disciplined manner.