Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care

Leadership opportunities are everywhere

Stephen Covey, author of the famed 7 habits of highly effective people has said that ‘Leadership is a choice, not a position’. This has been very apparent around the College over the past few weeks. We definitely have very clear Student leadership Structures at the College in Years 4, 6 and 12; however, leadership opportunities are available for all students to take advantage of. It’s important for students to experience leadership opportunities during their schooling, to learn the art of building relationships within teams, defining identities, and achieving tasks effectively. It also provides an opportunity to learn to identify and display effective communication and interpersonal skills. For this reason  we offer a multitude of opportunities and we encourage all students to seek out these opportunities.

The Principals’ Advisory Board, made up of a range of students, will see the fruits of their discussions and advice in action with their first Fitness Friday activities happening for Years 5-12 on Friday 18 November. The creation of the poppies by History classes for Remembrance Day on 11 November and displayed on Dom’s Plot provided students with a chance to drive an initiative and see the impact it had on growing knowledge and understanding the whole community. Our Year 6 students led the way on Wednesday evening at the Year 6 showcase with all girls working together to lead fantastic performances. Our Year 4 students are leading the way for the P-4 campus with advocacy and fundraising for those in need in the Philippines. A group of 20 students from the secondary campus undertook a two-day Ministry and Immersion Course in order to improve their capacity to lead our community in our faith growth and development. The leadership opportunities offered at the College are too numerous to list here and this does not include those incidental moments that offer students the opportunity to step up and demonstrate those skills that build community and confidence for all. We encourage all students not to see leadership as defined by a badge but to see leadership opportunities everywhere. 

Fitness Friday Years 5-12

As mentioned above we have a new initiative starting this Friday 18 November for all students on our 5-12 campus – Fitness Friday. Every Friday Week B students are all allowed to come to school in their PE uniform. On the day there will be a mass Just Dance party down on the small hockey field at lunch. The bell will also change to a different song each Friday Fitness day. We hope to see the activity options expand next year to include informal sports competitions across year groups every second Friday. We encourage parents to chat with their children about participating in this initiative and supporting the College in ensuring that your child attends school each Friday B in full school sports uniform if they wish. Please note that no tights or other elements of sport team uniforms are to be worn – only school sports shorts, tracksuits and red sports shirts. We are looking forward to our first Fitness Friday being the first of many. 

Melanie van der Meer
Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care