Dear Parents and Caregivers,

It’s great to be back in the school after my overseas professional learning. This is a copy of the speech I presented last week at assembly:

I have been away from you for the last 3 weeks. I spent 2 weeks in Boston at Harvard University and a week with the Director Mr Fox discussing the learning agenda at Hennessy.

Harvard University is currently ranked as 3rd best University in the world. Arguably the top university on the planet for graduate education. I applied for a scholarship to do some professional learning about leadership and being a better Principal and was lucky to be awarded one of 3 scholarships in Australia. I decided that I should aim high and take a risk to get out of my comfort zone and try for admission into the Women in Education Leadership course at Harvard.

I was the only principal in Australia to be accepted into the Harvard Graduate program.

It was hard. I had to write an academic paper, which the professors at the graduate school scrutinized before acceptance to the course. I had lots of work to do beforehand to prepare, I was one of only a handful of participants without a PHD and I had to do a presentation about Hennessy to 57 women from around the world and a panel of Harvard Professors. I was the only person from Australia. I was able to take Hennessy to the world, which was the best bit.

Needless to say I learnt a great deal about how successful leaders lead organizations. The main takeaway was about being yourself, being authentic and sticking to your values without compromising even if parts of your community might disagree at times.

I learnt that our school in Regional NSW is kicking goals academically and structurally and being overseas and sharing my experiences with other principals has confirmed for me that your teachers are experts and we are blessed to have them, and that Hennessy is a great school.

I recall saying to you (students) at the start of the year that nothing worth doing is easy and the best learning comes from being out of your comfort zone.

Now is the time to take risks in your academic journey, to step out of your comfort zone, to trust your teachers and to develop your authentic self.

Hennessy can help you build your future. Make the most of it.

Good wishes for the week ahead.

Trazel