Last week, Principals and CEB leadership met in Horsham for two days to connect across the network and exchange ideas to improve practice across our schools. As part of the gathering, Dr Jean Stiles led us in a workshop on our student agency journey, which generated valuable input to inform our approach. The panel discussion led by Prof Pasi Sahlberg was another particular highlight for me, as we were able to explore learnings from Finland together with Emily Clarke, Ben Shields, Anne Pekin and Dave Runge  - notably the student agency and engagement fostered by the Finnish approach. Thank you to everyone who made the time to attend and for your active participation. A special thank you to everyone who presented: I recognise the time invested in preparation, the courage it takes to share candidly from your own experiences and learnings and know these sessions were beneficial for all who attended. We celebrated mass and dinner on Thursday evening, thanking those who are leaving their principal roles at the end of this year.

Looking at continuous improvement, I would like to congratulate Sacred Heart Primary School in Mildura on achieving Flare Primary Literacy Lighthouse accreditation. This is a significant milestone that reflects your commitment to excellence in literacy teaching and learning. Thank you to the leadership team, staff, and students for your dedication to improving outcomes for every learner.

I'm looking forward to joining the St Patrick's Primary School, Camperdown’s 140th year celebrations this Friday and Sunday. One hundred and forty years is an extraordinary legacy of service to the community and it is a privilege to be part of honouring this rich history and marking the official opening of new classrooms, a fitting acknowledgement of the years to come.

With best wishes,

Tom Sexton
Executive Director