The past few weeks of Term 3 have been rich, with interschool events, winter sport and SRC elections. Intercol was once again a highlight, bringing with it a wonderful sense of school spirit and collegiality. It was terrific to see our girls supporting one another so enthusiastically, both in competition and from the sidelines.

As the days begin to lengthen, our attention also starts to shift towards the year ahead and the opportunities that 2027 will bring.

For our Year 10 and 11 students, recent weeks have included important decisions about their academic pathways. Through our Pathways Evening, information sessions and individual course counselling, students have been encouraged to consider their strengths, interests and future aspirations when making their choices.

For our Year 12 students, Term 3 marks an important stage in their final year of schooling. With many significant assessment tasks due before the end of term, the weeks ahead will require focus, perseverance and careful management of competing demands. At this point in the year, balance matters enormously. Making time for rest, exercise and genuine breaks from study will help students sustain their energy and perspective as they move towards examinations and the final milestones of their school journey.

Leadership has also been a strong focus for our Year 11 cohort as they prepare to become the Class of 2027. Following their leadership speeches and voting, students have been considering not simply who will hold formal positions, but the kind of Year 12 culture they want to create together. Their reflections on service, stewardship and responsibility have highlighted the many ways leadership can be demonstrated across a year level. It is exciting to see them beginning to take ownership of the contribution they hope to make to our Senior School community.

The SRC for 2027 are:

President
Gabby Chisholm

Vice President
Manha Abaid

Secretary
Mihika Kanhere

Amaryllis House Captains
Holly Fong
Zara Rocca

Antholiza House Captains
Lucia Rayner
Poppy Dawes

Carob House Captains
Sophie Cardone
Eshal Rauf

Cedar House Captains
Eva Baggio
Francesca Day

Sparaxis House Captains
Caitlyn Ooi
Nikoo Rasekhi

Boarding House Captains
Indy Holman
Anna Rasheed

Careers Representative
Akshaya Thiru

Round Square Representative
Seraphina Sun

STEM Representative
Shaya Ismail

International Representative
Meira Lam

Library Representative
Chloe Herbert

Media and Magazine Representative
Hannah Elsbury Sun

Music Representative
Annika Ganesh

Sports Representative
Madison Tait

Student Foundation Representative
Sarah Mah

Year 12 Representative
Nicole Nguyen

Katherine Bennell-Pegg

Earlier this term, we were given the opportunity to listen to Katherine Bennell-Pegg, 2026 Australian of the Year, speak about the experiences and training that led to her successes, including becoming the first astronaut to qualify under the Australian space flag and the first Australian woman to receive official astronaut wings.

We learned so much from Ms Bennell-Pegg, including details of her training, from scuba diving and medical procedures to learning to speak Russian. We also learned about the experiences of astronauts travelling to space and the impacts that a lack of gravity can have on their bodies.

She shared the experiences of astronauts who have been to space and gained a new perspective on the importance and fragility of our planet, and our responsibility to look after it.

One thing that stuck with us was that there were points in her journey when she thought she didn't deserve what she had achieved, but she proved to herself that she was just as capable as those around her.

Ms Bennell-Pegg is an example of what people can do when they work towards what they believe in, and we are immensely grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from her.

Nidhi, Sirui and Ameya (Year 10)