Principal’s Report
Developing our cultural competence…
Welcome back after term break. As you know, I spent the last week of the school holidays and the first week of this term in Japan. I was accompanied by Mr. Fujino, Dr. Kemp and 20 Senior School students who are currently studying Japanese. It was a great trip, and it provided us with the opportunity to strengthen our language skills and gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and history. A highlight of the trip was our time at Kasukabe High School (our Japanese brother school). The students engaged in a wide range of curricular and extra-curricular activities including sport, calligraphy and the art of tea making!
At Senior School assembly this morning and last week at an assembly at Kasukabe High School (our Japanese brother school), I spoke about the importance of developing your cultural competence.
Having strong cultural competence and cultural intelligence enables you to develop relationships, communicate and work with people from different cultural backgrounds. Cultural competence is an important asset to have in a global economy where you need to interact with people of diverse faiths, beliefs, and language backgrounds.
Developing your language and cultural skills are very important. These can have many future benefits such as improving further education and expanding career opportunities.
I have travelled widely. My study, research and work have taken me all over Australia and to overseas countries including Italy, Germany, Ireland, England, the United States, China and now Japan.
Each trip deepens my intercultural understandings and cultural competence.
You can be academically smart, but without these skills you may find it hard to succeed in a world that requires engagement across national borders and diverse internal communities.
Accordingly, Melbourne High School, like Kasukabe High School places great value on its exchange programs as these extend students and provide learning opportunities beyond the classroom.
Our schools have strong and proud academic traditions. We also value activities that broaden our students physically, artistically, and culturally. Since 1997 our two schools have worked together through an exchange program that has contributed to our shared belief that our students need to be well rounded and prepared to think globally.
I look forward to providing ongoing opportunities for students to engage in exchange programs (including virtual ones) as an adjunct to their language lessons.
News
Upcoming Events
- Jazz Night: Tuesday 2 May, 7pm
- House Athletics: Thursday 4 & Friday 5 May
- Mac.Rob & MHS Combined Musical | Anastasia: The Musical: Thursday 11 May to Saturday 13 May
Have a great week,
Dr Tony Mordini
Principal
