Executive Principal's Message (24 July 2026)
WLC Day - coming together as one
On Monday 13 July, staff from across our Horsham, Nhill and Dimboola campuses gathered at St Peter's Lutheran Church, Dimboola, for a WLC Day. These days have become an important part of our College calendar, providing a valuable opportunity for all staff, teachers, education support staff, administration, finance, maintenance, ICT and wellbeing to come together as one community to learn, reflect and continue strengthening the culture and identity of Wimmera Lutheran College.
The day began with a warm welcome from Dimboola Campus Head, Ms Millie Dent, who shared the rich history of the Dimboola Campus and led us in prayer as we prepared for the day ahead. We also took the opportunity to welcome several staff members, including Ms Jana Pavlovska, who officially commenced her role as our Interim Director of Business Operations. We also acknowledged the contribution of Mr Craig Young as he concluded his time with the College. The morning encouraged staff to pause before the busyness of Term 3 and intentionally reconnect with colleagues from across all three campuses.
Our first professional learning session centred on Leading Lutheran Identity. Together we explored what makes a Lutheran school distinctive and reflected on the Growing Deep framework, which reminds us that every person working in a Lutheran school is a leader, regardless of their role. Through discussion and collaborative activities, staff considered how our Lutheran identity is expressed not only through worship and Christian symbols, but also through our relationships, culture, hospitality and daily interactions with students and families.
A highlight of the session was a creative design challenge where groups imagined what a purpose-built Lutheran school would look like and identified the elements that could never be removed if the school's Christ-centred identity was to remain intact. These conversations reinforced that our Lutheran identity is something we intentionally live out every day, not simply something we display.
The second part of the morning focused on the ongoing development of our Mission, Vision and Values as part of the Wimmera Lutheran College Strategic Plan. Building on the work already undertaken by the Board, Executive Team, staff surveys and community consultation, staff explored the emerging themes of Community, Faith, Excellence and Respect, while also having the opportunity to suggest additional values that they believe best represent WLC. Through table discussions and collaborative activities, every staff member contributed to identifying the values that will shape the culture and future direction of our College.
These responses will now be collated by the Leadership Team as the next stage of the strategic planning process continues.
Following morning tea, staff participated in a practical professional learning session on Artificial Intelligence in Schools. The session examined how AI is already influencing education and explored the opportunities and responsibilities it presents for schools.
Staff considered the importance of the Australian Privacy Principles, ethical decision-making, cyber safety, and responsible use of AI by both staff and students. Interactive activities challenged staff to evaluate real-world scenarios and contributed to the development of Wimmera Lutheran College's future AI Charter, ensuring our approach remains both innovative and grounded in our Christian values.
The afternoon concluded with important compliance and wellbeing sessions, including the College's twice-yearly Anaphylaxis Management Briefing, followed by worship together as one College community before staff returned to their respective campuses in preparation for the arrival of students the following day.
As we continue to grow as one College, days such as these are invaluable. They strengthen relationships across campuses, deepen our shared understanding of Lutheran education, and ensure that we continue moving forward with a common purpose.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making the day such a positive and engaging experience, and in particular to the Dimboola Campus and St Peters Lutheran Church and Ladies Guild for their generous hospitality. Together, we continue to build a Christ-centred community where students, staff and families are truly free to flourish.
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together... but encouraging one another."
Hebrews 10:24-25
Mr Jason Przibilla, Executive Principal
