THE principal who has driven the growth of a Wodonga school will leave the Border early next year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Victory Lutheran School’s Cain McDonald has accepted the principal position at the Tatachilla Lutheran College in South Australia.
He broke the news to students and parents yesterday.
“There are a lot of positive aspects about Victory and where the school is,” he said.
“I just feel it was the right time to hand the reins to someone else.
“There’s been a lot of great progress so I feel comfortable taking up a new opportunity.”
Mr McDonald said there had been sadness and shock among the school community.
“But everyone has been supportive and understanding and the response has been heartwarming,” he said.
“Inevitably it will be sad.”
When Mr McDonald, a secondary teacher by training, took up the role of principal in 2007 the school was in the early stages of expanding from a primary school to covering prep to year 12.
There were only 300 students and 25 staff.
Now numbers have more than doubled to 675 students and 80 staff.
Mr McDonald said he had been aiming to become the school’s longest serving principal but fell short with that honour remaining with the school’s first principal Jerry Smith, who served for 10 years.
In recent years, Mr McDonald has presided over the opening of a new multipurpose gym and science centre, while a trade training centre is set to open next year.
“There were only four main buildings on the site when I came and now there are close to 20,” he said.
“It was challenging at first but I think it has become really successful and it’s well known and has enrolment growth.”