Principal
‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’. So wrote Charles Dickens in his book the Tale of Two Cities. The thought goes a little further … ‘it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,’
These thoughts come to mind when reflecting on the final days for our Year 12s, the majority of whom are now busily preparing for the External Assessment period which begins next Monday. Many of our Work and Further Studies boys have finished their assessment and some of them have already begun work and the next phase of their lives is underway.
But back to their final days.
These days certainly included many highs and some lows. The College staff dedicated an enormous amount of time and energy to provide our Year 12s with the best possible exit. The final days of school featured numerous events and rituals that included: Big Brother Breakfast, Boarding Formal Dinner, Liberating Education lunch, Boarders Rite of Passage, Old Boys Morning Tea, House Farewells, final Chapel liturgy, Rose Garden and the Farewell Assembly. Beyond these occasions teachers were supporting and guiding them all to navigate the end of school and the pressures of important exams.
Over those last couple of days there were two occasions when a small number of Year 12s let their classmates, their school and themselves down. One of these occasions involved the posting of a list of students and staff in the toilets. The creation and posting of the list is counter to every value we espouse as a school. It is a relic of times past and has a notion of being a ‘tradition’ in the minds of some boys. It is most certainly not a tradition. It is quite simply the worst of behaviour. It was never acceptable in the past nor is it in the present. A second occasion involved a final cheering practice in the grandstand on Friday. Sadly, the majority of boys were let down by the actions of one or two cowards. The stink bomb that was released and fluids that were showered on some boys ruined the occasion for everyone. The age of foolishness.
In recent years, Senior staff have been working very deliberately to extinguish such repugnant behaviour. We have failed to be able to do so to date but remained committed to changing this culture that is counter to what we aspire to be as Nudgee College. I apologise to the boys and families who were affected.
To the best of times. I received some very affirming emails and comments from Year 12 parents during these final days. One stood out because in it parents shared some of the heartache of their son’s journey through school with a debilitating illness. I share it in part:
‘A huge weight has been lifted from … in his final ceremony at Nudgee with the resolution of past conflicts. It says a lot about the importance of these ceremonies that engage family and school in the Nudgee program.
… leaves Nudgee to start his new journey with great pride in the school, a better connection with us, his parents, and a confident and positive outlook. He has grown as a person, and a young man, and we could ask for no more of the school.’
Undoubtedly, the age of wisdom.
Mr Peter Fullagar
Principal
