Dear Parents and Guardians

This is our final newsletter for 2011. Thanks to everyone for another wonderful year at Galen.

Congratulations to the Year 12 students of 2011 who have produced an excellent range of outcomes. To our VCAL and VCE students, congratulations on achieving your certificates and completing all the course requirements to gain you this qualification. You have indeed made us all proud to be Galen!

The Dux of Galen for 2011 is Claire Luxford, with an outstanding ATAR of 99.25, placing her in the top 1% of students across the whole of Victoria. Galen had a total of 12 students with ATARs over 90 – this equates to 11% of Galen Year 12 students who have achieved in the top 10% of students across Victoria.  A quarter of all Galen students achieved an ATAR of 80 or above.

Importantly, these results give our graduate students a great opportunity to access the tertiary courses of their first preference next year. Course offers will be made in the new year.

I would like to wish the 2012 Year 12 students the very best as they prepare themselves over the holidays for their final year of secondary education. These students have begun their Year 12 studies already through the HeadStart program, which we have implemented here at Galen this year for the first time. They have received holiday homework as part of their subject coursework, which is in keeping with best practice for senior studies.

Finally, I wish all members of the Galen community – students, parents, families – a happy and holy Christmas. I look forward to working with you all again in 2012.

Sincerely yours,

Bernard Neal
Principal