As we return from the holiday break and begin Term 4, there is a familiar sense of anticipation across the school. The final term of the year is always one of our busiest and most celebratory. It is a time when learning becomes visible through performances, showcases, exhibitions and events, and when we gather as a community to acknowledge both accomplishment and milestone.

Over the coming weeks, families can look forward to the Family Fair, student showcases, performances and plays, celebrations of learning, information evenings and orientation events for 2027, the Year 12 Graduation, and, of course, our much-loved staff-performed Shepherd’s Play and the annual Carol Service. These occasions provide opportunities not only to celebrate what our students have brought about, but also to strengthen the connections that make our community so special.

This term begins with particularly exciting news. We are delighted to congratulate Year 12 student Jasmine Lancaster Merton who has been crowned the winner of ABC TV's Portrait Artist of the Year (Season 2), earning national recognition for her artistic talent and creativity. Jasmine impressed judges and audiences throughout the competition with her technical skill, artistic vision and ability to capture the character of her subjects.

Jasmine's achievement provides a wonderful reminder of the importance of an education that values the arts, not as an optional extra, but as an essential part of human development. In a Steiner school, creativity is woven through every stage of learning. As I wrote earlier this year, creativity is not simply about producing artistic works; it is about nurturing imagination, curiosity, perseverance and the capacity to bring ideas into meaningful form. Through story, music, movement, handcraft, visual arts and rich intellectual inquiry, students are encouraged to engage with the world as active creators rather than passive consumers.

Jasmine's success is a testament to her own dedication, talent and hard work, supported by her family, teachers and the wider school community. It also stands as a powerful example of what can emerge when young people are given the time, encouragement and confidence to develop their creative capacities. We are incredibly proud of all that she has achieved and look forward to following her artistic journey in the years ahead.

Finally, this week marks another significant milestone as our Year 12 students commence their HSC Examinations. After years of commitment, growth and perseverance, they now enter the final stage of their school journey. On behalf of the entire Glenaeon community, I wish each of them calm minds, confidence in their preparation and the ability to approach each examination with courage and perspective. Regardless of the results that lie ahead, we are immensely proud of the thoughtful, capable and resilient young people they have become.

I wish all families a wonderful start to Term 4 and look forward to sharing this final chapter of the school year together.

Warmly,
Diana Drummond
Head of School