Leadership has been very much on all of our minds these last few weeks, as we have awaited the outcome of coalition talks. As I write, we still do not know who will lead our country, but I am sure that energy, vision, commitment and compromise will be key to a successful Government. At Marsden, we have been focused on our own leadership selection process and the same qualities will be the mark of strong student leaders in 2018. At the end of last term our students and staff cast their votes and, as a result of the democratic process, an outstanding group of young women has been announced to form the 2018 Head Girls’ Committee. Our next stage is to announce the individual member’s positions on the Committee and this will take place next week. In the lead-up to the announcement, each of these girls presented a two-minute speech at our Thursday assembly on the topic of ‘Ad Summa and me’. It was inspiring to hear their take on our school motto (‘to the highest’) and how it can have very real application in the daily lives of our students. Their messaging was outstanding and the poise, confidence and conviction with which they spoke made me very proud. The many opportunities the girls are given at school to stand up and speak out pay off in such a situation. It is also very heartening to know that this committee is only a representative sample of an impressive year group. There are many other leadership opportunities beyond the core HGC group and we always take great pleasure in seeing the ways in which senior girls pick up one or two of the myriad of leadership opportunities available and make a difference.
Happy Labour weekend!
Margaret Adeane
Acting Principal