Dear Preshil Students and Parents,
I want to let you know that a letter from School Council will be sent out to the Preshil community later today announcing my retirement as Principal at the end of this year. I have been at Preshil for over ten years and now it is time for a new chapter – both for me and the School.
Having made this decision at the start of the year, before we were all buried under the weight of the Covid-19 pandemic, I expected to be able to make this announcement after it was all over. Sadly it is still not over.
As it turns out, we cannot wait any longer as plans for next year are already in place – which brings me to the excellent news that Natalie Jensen, our Assistant Principal, who has been on leave this year, will return and take up the role as interim Principal for 2021. Nat will be back at Preshil towards the end of the year to work with me and your teachers in finalising plans for next year. She is delighted to be returning and I know you will welcome and support her as she takes on this responsibility.
It is disappointing for me not to have been able to get to the other side of this wretched pandemic and have everyone safely back at school before I made this announcement – but it is a pretty minor disappointment considering all that has been lost, missed out on and all that has had to be endured by you, the students. I can only imagine how tough isolation has been for some of you and what courage, patience and optimism has been required of you as we look forward to better time ahead.
I am a grandmother – Granny Smith, in fact – and I am looking forward to being able to make up for all the time I have not been able to spend with my little granddaughter this year. I hope every one of you has many things you are looking forward to next year and that, when the time comes, you will leave Preshil with as much pride and gratitude as I feel for having had the privilege of being a part of our wonderful, unique School.
Hopefully we will have some opportunities for fun and celebration before the end of the year and that you will all be back on campus with your friends and teachers very soon.
I so look forward to catching up and being together between now and the end of the year.
Warm regards
Marilyn
