I have really enjoyed reconnecting with students as we recommenced the term and hearing about the outstanding achievements of our students across our whole school. Whether it’s in the classroom, on the field or stage, or outside of school, we are constantly amazed by our students’ dedication, commitment and enthusiasm for their passions.
I want to take a moment to recognise some particularly special achievements by a range of our students over the last several weeks.
We were excited to learn that two Carey students received a Premier’s Study Award to recognise their efforts in their VCE studies last year. Ava Bohun from the Class of 2025 received her award for Australian History, taught by Jo Leech, where she achieved a study score of 50, the highest possible score. One of our current School Captains, Kaixin Li, also received an award for his study score of 50 in Specialist Mathematics, taught by Paul Allsopp, which he took as an accelerated subject in Years 10 and 11.
These well-deserved awards recognise the immense effort and dedication students put into their studies, and we are so pleased for Ava and Kaixin.
Stanley in Year 6 was invited to perform at the Mozarteum University Salzburg in Austria last Sunday, after having been awarded First Prize in the 2026 International Music Competition ‘Salzburg’ Grand Prize Virtuoso. The competition is open to musicians around the world and only a small number are invited to perform at the Mozarteum. This is a remarkable achievement and we look forward to hearing about his experience when he returns.
Jonathan in Year 4 is currently in North Carolina, USA, competing in the US Kids Golf World Championship, after having won the US Kids Golf Melbourne Fall Local Tour Boys 9 Championship in June and the US Kids Golf Australian Open Boys 9 on the Sunshine Coast in the school holidays.
Jonathan will have the opportunity to carry the Australian flag in the National Parade, and he is very excited to be representing the country. We wish him the best of luck in the competition and look forward to hearing from him when he returns home.
Our Resilient Youth Survey results this year have been pleasing as well, and I strongly commend our staff and families for their ongoing wellbeing support of our students. It is through care that we enable or students to do their best and be their best. School sections use the data provided by the survey to identify what we are doing well and areas that need more of a focus. You can read about the Middle School and Senior School perspectives in this newsletter.
Our Director of Sport and Activities, Jack Joslin, has also shared a range of admirable recent sporting achievements in his article in this newsletter. I encourage you to read the article and I congratulate each one of these students.
Success can take many forms, and I want to acknowledge every student who has challenged themselves, accomplished a goal or reached a personal or academic milestone.
You don’t have to be winning competitions to celebrate success. I want us to focus on the effort every student invests into their learning – it is through sustained commitment and a willingness to embrace the struggles we face that growth occurs.
Update on Secondary timetable and curriculum changes
Throughout this week and last, we have held positive and productive forums with students discussing the intended changes to the timetable and curriculum from 2027 and I am grateful for the students’ insights. These student forums are ongoing, and I am looking forward to next week’s parent forums as an opportunity to provide further information and gather feedback.
These forums are helping to inform and refine the final iteration of the revised structure, and we will share the final outcome of these discussions on Friday 7 August. Thank you for your patience and engagement throughout this process.
Jonathan Walter
Principal
