Hello and welcome to this fortnight’s Ruyton News.

I am reverting to a written update in this term’s penultimate Ruyton News.

I hope that the long weekend provided time for relaxation and connection with family and loved ones.

For many of our staff and students, this weekend meant intensive rehearsals for the upcoming Ruyton and Trinity production of Mary Poppins, while I am sure our Year 6 cast were at home rehearsing for their production Finding Nemo Jr and some of our Year 7 & 8 students were preparing for auditions for their production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This was all in addition to the stunning Contemporary Music Concert which took place in the last week of May which showcased the extraordinary repertoire of ensembles, bands and performers. These productions all provide wonderful learning and leadership opportunities, but they do not happen by chance.  They require individual and collective planning and preparation, and I commend and thank everyone involved.

Recently, our students achieved an extraordinary milestone in sport, winning the GSV Cross Country Championship - an event that brings together 23 independent girls’ schools from across Melbourne. It was a truly proud moment to stand alongside parents and supporters at Cruden Farm and witness the presentation of the trophy to the more than 100 girls who have participated in Ruyton’s running program this year.

This outstanding result is a testament to the dedication, discipline, and determination of our athletes, many of whom committed to early morning training sessions throughout the term. As I shared with the girls on the day, “Individuals win medals, but teams win championships”, a message that beautifully reflects the spirit of the Ruyton Running Club. More than just a training program, our expert staff have fostered a culture of encouragement, perseverance, and camaraderie. It’s a place where students of all abilities run for one another, celebrate progress over achievement, and embrace the shared pursuit of personal best.

Under the expert guidance of Head Coach Steve Ellinghaus and our exceptional coaching team, the squad now turns its focus to the State Cross Country Championships and the prestigious Joan Beretta Shield - a title Ruyton has proudly held, undefeated, since 2003. As we await the performances on 21 June, we do so with pride and optimism, hopeful for the opportunity to celebrate this honour for the 21st consecutive year.

In addition to the Cross Country major carnivals, our recent sports assembly recognised our Term 2 athletes across the various GSV programs as well as our Ruyton students who recently competed in the State Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships where we experienced further success across the various disciplines.

Learning to balance curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular programs is something that we teach explicitly at Ruyton. Through our Academic Buoyancy program, we support students from Years 7 to 12 to manage their time and themselves through these exciting phases of the school year. This is particularly important when our Year 9 to 12 students are also preparing for the upcoming examination period. I am confident all of our young people, with the support of our outstanding staff, will have prepared to the very best of their ability.  I wish all our students a positive and rewarding experience during the assessment period, with particular encouragement to our Year 9 cohort as they navigate their first experience of examinations. This is an important milestone in their learning journey, and we hope it builds both confidence and valuable skills for the future.

In another moment of absolute joy, I was so very grateful to two of our Year 4 students who came to visit me just last week and presented me with the delicious potato and leek soup and focaccia that they had made at South House. Thank you to Alexia and Lei for this very special delivery. Our immersive program for Year 4 students is extraordinary and it was so special to see parents joining the program earlier in the term, where they were able to enjoy time in the garden reading with their girls. I am delighted to report that they were also able to enjoy another of the delicious recipes that are an integral part of the kitchen-garden program at South House.  Today marks my first culinary adventure in the kitchen garden as we come together, Principal, staff and students to cook in support of our community partners. Everything we prepare will be donated to It’s the Little Things Community, a wonderful organisation that provides home-cooked meals to individuals and families in need. It’s a meaningful way to give back, and I’m proud to be part of this initiative driven by our Year 4 South House cohort.

I want to thank all of the parents who have come along to our informal, year group Coffee Conversations. It has been a wonderful opportunity to meet parents and to hear first-hand of the experiences of families at different levels within our school. I recognise that these times do not suit all of our parents so my hope is that we will have these each term and that we will also find other times and opportunities to meet throughout each year.

Over the course of this year, I have been reflecting upon the research of award-winning reporter and author Jennifer Breheny Wallace. What has struck me so powerfully is the importance of supporting students not to be overwhelmed by the opportunities that are on offer at Ruyton but rather to be empowered to make well considered and informed choices in all areas of their curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular experiences. This is where personal growth and development are fostered, and this is an approach that sits deep within our Academic Buoyancy and InspireMe programs and is also at the heart of professional learning for our staff.

As a learning community, we are so fortunate to be in a position to consider research such as this and the work of others such as Jonathan Haidt, to ensure we are best placed to support the current generation of young people whose experiences in a digital world are likely very different to those we experienced when we were at school.

Ruyton is an incredibly vibrant place and the commitment and energy from our staff and students is truly joyous. I extend my very best wishes and gratitude to everyone in our community for the coming fortnight.

Kim Bence
Principal