Hello Preshil community,
Today marks the end of our 2025 Preshil calendar year. What an immense year this has been for all of us! As a community, we’ve experienced truly special moments as we’ve navigated the unique learning journeys of our young people. It has been a time of growth, connection, and purpose, and we now look ahead with excitement to a fresh new year.
As I reflect on the year, I do so with deep pride and gratitude for all that we have achieved together. It has been a year filled with meaningful successes, both large and small, that have shaped who we are and where we are headed.
One of the greatest joys this year has been witnessing the growing connection between our programs and campuses. This has brought a sense of harmony and joy, and a stronger cultural thread that now runs more deeply through every part of the school.
Across all teams, there has been a strengthening of relationships and a deepening sense of unity. While we teach at different ages and stages, and naturally bring different approaches to our practice, we are united by a shared philosophy. Much like parenting a toddler versus a teenager, our strategies may be applied differently, but the essence remains the same: a deep respect for each learner and a commitment to their individual journey.
At Preshil, we continue to strive for a distinct approach: education done differently, education with purpose. This throughline begins in the earliest years and carries all the way through to Year 12. While it may look different in the Early Learning Centre than in the Senior Years, where we meet the demands of external assessment, the child-centred, thinking-focused, creative and compassionate foundation remains ever-present. Each stage of learning is beautiful in its own way because it reflects each young person’s unique way of connecting with the world, becoming more attuned to their identity, their impact, and their place within the rich tapestry of humanity. It is our role to provide young people with a grounding, formative experience during this remarkable period of self-actualisation.
Our children are not “off the shelf,” and neither is our school. We are proudly autonomous in what we do, shaping learning experiences that our young people truly deserve. Pillars grounded in social learning, inquiry, participatory democracy, purpose, relationships and community, creativity and self expression, passion and interest will continue to guide the evolution of our school in 2026 and beyond.
What we do as a school shapes and influences each child’s sense of self within the community. We know they will carry this sense of belonging and responsibility into their adult lives.
From our beginnings in Greta Lyttle’s backyard on Barkers Road, Preshil was never designed to retrofit an existing model of education. It was founded to pioneer a new one. Our roots are, and always have been, progressive. The belief that children are individuals with unique pathways is not something we’ve had to adapt to; it is the very fabric of our school.
This is the heritage we continue to honour, not by preserving it unchanged, but by amplifying and evolving it, and aligning it with the needs of our time in thoughtful, meaningful ways. It is why Preshil has endured, and why I believe we are entering a renaissance: a new era of strength, purpose and possibility.
The next decade holds so much promise. I believe Preshil will continue to be a beacon, a light that shows what education can be when it is centred around the individual, grounded in community, and built on a belief in lifelong, holistic growth.
To our teachers: thank you. You lead with such care, attuned to our children’s needs and strengths, and work in close partnership with families to support their growth. Your dedication is the heartbeat of this school.
To our families: thank you for your continued support, your trust, and your willingness to walk with us through moments of growth and renewal. You are an essential part of our shared journey.
And to our students: you are extraordinary, for who you are and for who you are becoming. It is a joy and privilege to walk alongside you as you learn, grow and contribute to the world.
As we close the year, I wish all our families a peaceful and restorative break. May the holidays bring you joy, rest and renewal. I look forward to welcoming you back in the new year for another exciting chapter in the life of our school.
Warmly,
Aaron Mackinnon
Principal
