BMG 2020 Grammarian Issue 3

14 I commenced at Bacchus Marsh Grammar in July 1998 and was appointed to the role of Principal’s Assistant by Andrew Neal and past Business Manager Alan Dennis. I started twoweeks before Andrew’s official first day at the school, to assist in setting up the Principal’s Office before his commencement. One of the first things that struck me about the school was the ‘feeling’. The students, parents and staff were so welcoming and friendly, and being a small school of 300 students we were a close-knit community. Even though the school has now grown to 3 campuses and a student population of over 2,600, the ‘feeling’ still exists. We may not know each and every student’s name but there is still a hello and smile from the students and parents. The first few years were hard work; Andrew had 2 small daughters and I had a toddler. One of the successes of the growth of the school was to take the school ‘on the road’. We held many information nights in the Werribee, Melton, Gisborne and Diggers Rest areas which resulted in some instances of over 12-hour workdays. It was hard work, but on reflection, so worthwhile to see the wonderful success of the school’s growth over the years. My role has evolved enormously over the years. In the first couple of years my day consisted of being: Principal’s Assistant, School Registrar, School Nurse, Canteen Assistant, Car Park Attendant, Uniform Shop helper, Receptionist, Tour Guide operator – to name a few! If there was a job to do, we all pitched in and did it. Something that still exists amongst the staff today. In the year 2000, I went on Maternity Leave and the School Registrar was appointed to manage the growing enrolments the school was experiencing. The Registrar’s role has also evolved from keeping track of enrolments in an exercise book (true! – Andrew and I, once we found the exercise book, were troubled to say the least). The enrolments are now managed via our database, and enrolment forms have gone from a paper-based system to online, saving many hours of data entry. I returned from Maternity Leave in 2001 and then left for Maternity Leave again in 2002! With three small children I worked part-time, and job-shared the role for a couple of years. As the school kept growing and my children grew older, I recommenced in the role full-time. The facilities of the school have also changed enormously over the years. One example of that is Wilson Hall, which was the indoor Physical Education Hall and located next to the Principal’s Office and my office. Some days we were listening to the Chicken Dance song, the Nutbush and other tunes as students learnt movement to music! The Principal’s Office has also had three locations over the last 20 years; we moved into the current location in 2013. There have been many hilarious events, tragic events, births, deaths and marriages, and I’m proud to have been able to be a part of the history of the school. I can’t believe I have been on the staff for over twenty years, and in my last year of being a parent of the school as my youngest daughter completes Year 12; the time has absolutely flown by. Each and every day is still different in the Principal’s Office and, although I may not be ‘on the ground’ as much, the work is still stimulating due to the ever-evolving nature of the school. – Mrs Michelle Graham Executive Assistant to the Principal MICHELLE GRAHAM REFLECTION Grace, Michelle, Madeleine and Bailey