A Year of Noticing at Girton Grammar: Thoughtful education for a changing world

AT Girton Grammar, 2026 has become the “Year of Noticing,” a purposeful pause in a fast-moving world to look a little more closely at the qualities and connections that shape our young people.

In the heart of Bendigo, Girton has long been recognised for academic excellence, a focus on social and emotional learning, and a mission to educate and empower young people to achieve and flourish in their aspirations for life.

This year, we want our students to notice the small moments, the ones that reveal their values and shape their character, because learning to see these moments helps them understand themselves and their impact on others.

Part of that renewed focus has come through refreshing our school values and weaving them more intentionally into daily school life.

While the language may be new, our values of Educational Excellence, Determination, Respect, Curiosity, Compassion and Connection have guided Girton for generations. This year, our teachers are actively noticing and celebrating when students live out these values, strengthening a culture where character is just as visible as achievement.

Principal Dr Emma O’Rielly sees the impact every day.

“When we slow down and really take the time to notice our students, their kindness, their persistence and the way they support one another, we shine a light on the best parts of who they are,” she says.

“Those moments matter just as much as any test score, and celebrating them creates a ripple effect, encouraging others to follow.”

You can see it everywhere: in the quiet determination of a student pushing through a challenging problem, in the compassion of choosing to pause and check on a classmate rather than rush to the finish line, and in the spark of curiosity that nudges a student to try a new co curricular experience, only to discover a passion they didn’t know was waiting for them.

A major part of this journey is Girton’s longstanding leadership in social and emotional learning. Girton is the first school in the southern hemisphere to be named a RULER Spotlight School by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, recognising more than a decade of commitment to evidence-based wellbeing education.

The RULER approach supports students in understanding emotions, building empathy and regulating behaviour effectively so they can do their best; skills that are essential not only for learning but for life.

This Year of Noticing has also brought fresh attention to how students use technology in the classroom. As part of this focus, we are reviewing when and how digital tools are incorporated to ensure they enhance learning rather than distract from it.

Our teaching continues to be anchored in proven, science-backed pedagogy, with technology serving only as a purposeful complement. This reflects our values of Curiosity and Determination, as we nurture students to become thoughtful digital citizens who appreciate both the possibilities and responsibilities of the online world.

Taken together, these shifts reinforce why Girton Grammar remains one of the region’s most respected independent schools. With a strong academic foundation, a deeply embedded values system and pioneering emotional intelligence education, Girton continues to shape strong, grounded young people who understand what drives their actions and choices in life.

This Year of Noticing reminds us that great education grows from recognising the moments, big and small, that shape the whole person. At Girton, we are noticing, and because of that, our students can flourish.

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