Mr Scott Thomson (Term 4, Week7)
Greetings to the Nudgee College community
It was American novelist and science fiction author, Frank Herbert who once stated, “There is no real ending. It is just a place where you stop your story.” As you are reading this, our Year 12 students are rapidly approaching the conclusion of their St Joseph’s Nudgee College story.
For many of the boys, they will soon complete their final external assessment. This will be followed by our College Awards Ceremony on Tuesday (November 12), the Boarders’ Farewell Dinner (November 13) and the College Valedictory (November 14). It is certainly a busy week for many boys, and their families, but a wonderful and fitting way to bid farewell to the place that has been such a big part of so many of their lives. Thank you to the entire Year 12 cohort for the way that you have “honoured the story and created a legacy”. I have to acknowledge the work of Charlie Bell and Grady Turner (College Vice-Captains) and Oscar Roati (College Captain); well done gents on how you led our school.
Last week during assembly, I spoke with the students about the recently completed Leader Appraisal process and how it could be applied to their performance throughout the year. I challenged the boys to gauge their progress in 2024 in relation to our College Faith Star and the virtues outlined; faith, community, excellence, authenticity, courage and justice. I then proceeded to provide some feedback to the student body using the very simple appraisal structure of affirmations (accountabilities) and considerations (areas of growth). Whilst the vast majority of our boys carry themselves highly in relation to the all elements of the Faith Star, there are sadly a number of boys who make choices and behave in ways that contradict what we are about at Nudgee College.
It must be understood by all families who choose a Nudgee College education that we will always work with those who make poor choices on the proviso that these mistakes are not repeated. Our Student Formation team is currently reviewing the performance of students who are repeatedly making choices that adversely affect their peers and staff. The energy of staff needs to be focussed on students who genuinely want to be the best for this school, and want to make our school the best. As I continually say, a Nudgee education is a privilege, not an entitlement.
In saying that, I would like to thank the overwhelming majority of boys who genuinely put their best foot forward on a daily basis. They do so not to garner thanks or adulation, they do it because they are an authentic Nudgee man, pursuing excellence in all they do in a just and courageous way to ensure that within and without of this community, they are being a sign of faith.