Acting Head of Senior School
What makes for a great school?
This year I have had the privilege of acting as the of Head of Senior School. Conducting enrolment interviews has been one part of this role which has been a great pleasure. In these meetings we often discuss what it means to be a member of the Shellharbour Anglican College community. From my own experience, and from that of others, two main things come to mind in thinking about this. These are both grounded by our Christian beliefs and values.
Shellharbour Anglican College students involve themselves in the life of the College
This is evident if you ever attend one of our Senior School assemblies. We often run overtime because there is just so much going on that’s worth celebrating. In recent Senior School leadership interviews one student recently commented that they love that involvement is something that’s seen as the norm for students and that our culture supports this (as opposed to a tall poppy culture).
It’s the second point however, regarding what it means to be part of the community, that I think is most important.
Shellharbour Anglican College students are respectful, inclusive and supportive
Our students have traditionally celebrated the involvement and success of whoever enters our gates. Last week we had the renowned illustrator of children’s books Philip Lesnie present to our Senior School students for Book Week. The illustrations presented were breath-taking. At the conclusion of the day, Philip reflected to our Librarian Mrs. Hand that he was overwhelmed by the warmth of our community and the interest students and staff showed in his work. Hearing feedback like this makes me feel proud of the community we have here at the College.
In the famous ‘Sermon on the Mount’, Jesus gave some radical and countercultural teachings that serve as the foundation for the way Christians should live. In what has become known as the ‘Golden Rule’, Jesus encourages us to “do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets’. In other words, as you think about how to treat others, begin by thinking about the ways in which you would want to be treated by others. Those words lead us to exactly the kind of respectful, supportive and inclusive community that we desire to be.
