Principal
Welcome back to a somewhat interrupted start to the new term. The close proximity of Easter to Anzac Day is unusual and presents us all with some challenges and opportunities. A warm welcome to the several new students and their families who have joined the community over the holiday break.
Importantly, school resumed with a massive day of parent, teacher and students conferences on Tuesday. There were more than 3,400 interviews held with more than 850 parents and 1035 students with bookings. While the statistics are impressive it is the benefit to student outcomes that is most significant. These short conversations can have a powerful and long lasting effect on the academic outcomes of many boys, both in the immediate future of this term as well as over the semesters that follow. The increasing number of students who are present on the day is a continuing and pleasing trend in recent times. Ultimately it is their engagement that is integral to the quality of these academic conversations. Importantly, our teachers prepared well for the day and I am grateful for their commitment to long hours on this first day of the term.
Much like the seasons of nature, each school term presents a changing landscape for students, parents and teachers to successfully navigate together. Some boys are much busier this term with school commitments while some are setting an easier pace than in Term 1. Others, of course, are continuing to power along with a very busy schedule of school work and co-curricular commitments to negotiate. Certainly the nature of Term 2 with several public holidays combined with significant school events such as Open Day, Year 12 Kairos retreats, the College Musical and Years 5, 7 and 9 NAPLAN testing can interrupt boys from establishing their regular routines and, in some instances, their schoolwork focus can be temporarily lost. We need to be conscious that it is a term where the weeks slip by ever so quickly because of its shorter in length and there are various interruptions. These factors make a good start to the term important for all students.
While the holidays were a break from regular class and schoolwork there were many, many boys involved in College activities including Chess, Cross Country, Track and Field, Football, Rugby, Swimming and Tennis. Thanks to the staff, Old Boys and parents who were also involved in organising and leading these activities. Many of these served as preparation for the coming Term 2 GPS program. We wish all our boys in Tennis and Football the very best for their coming seasons. We congratulate Alec Reverente (1st IV Tennis), Harry Arnison (1st XI Captain) and Sigi Beschel (Football Captain) on their leadership appointments.
We were fortunate to have Mr Kieran McCarthy (NC 1979-83) as our guest speaker at the College’s Anzac Ceremony. As well as being a highly regarded lawyer, Kieran has expertise as a European battlefield guide. He shared with us a very insightful reflection on three Nudgee College Old Boys, their military service and the notion of the common good. As always this ceremony was given complete respect, with our boys engaged in dignified silence. Thanks to the staff who prepared and led the ceremony. Well done also to the boarders who represented the College at the Shorncliffe Dawn Service.
In conclusion, we remember in our prayers the people of Sri Lanka and all those in the international community directly affected by the Easter bombing. It is a scourge of modern times that innocent people at prayer can be the targets of hatred and division. Of course, the great message of Easter for Christians is that after the darkest Good Friday there is the light and hope of the Resurrection. Christians, and good people of all faiths, must be beacons of light and hope for our ailing world.
With every best wish for the term ahead.
Mr Peter Fullagar
Principal
