Principal
Celebration is the theme for the week.
Monday night’s Awards Ceremony was a celebration of the many accomplishments of a diverse range of students across all dimensions of College life. The night was a mixture of many presentations to individual students for their achievements but also for the generous contributions that many students, staff and parents have made to improving school life for others.
The pinnacle of the evening was the presentation of year level Dux awards and, in particular, College Dux. We congratulate the following students on this outstanding achievement:
- Year 5: William Dallimore
- Year 6: Paddy Williams
- Year 7: Oscar Roati
- Year 8: Oliver Kele
- Year 9: Lachlan Barrett
- Year 10: Ian Pantaleon
- Year 11: Declan Cabot
- Dux of College: Vidur Sehgal
Vidur’s all-round success is simply outstanding and worth sharing. During his Senior year Vid has duxed Mathematics B and C, English and Study of Religion. In addition he was a member of the 1st XI Cricket and Football teams and in his ‘spare time’ he was also the lead singer in Rock Band 1. Consequently, Vid received the W A Collins Memorial Award for Conduct, Study and Sport as well as the Caltex All-Rounder Award for Study, Activities and Service.
The recognition of Vid’s broad array of achievements is emblematic of what we value here at Nudgee College. It is academic accomplishment first but not at the exclusion of other aspects of the holistic development we value here. I share with you some excerpts from my speech on Monday night which highlights this point:
“At Nudgee College, we highly value academic achievement, but that is not our singular focus. We also value a balanced and holistic education. Academic endeavour and rigour is framed by the social, emotional and spiritual development of the whole person. Ours is a liberating education in which our teachers strive to open the hearts and minds of our young men.
It is both our mission and our challenge to continue to be an inclusive school with boys from diverse socio, cultural and economic backgrounds; to offer academic and vocational pathways as well as a broad array of co-curricular offerings in service, the arts and sport. The successful navigation of a path through this rich and diverse school life is what shapes Nudgee College boys to be young men who are better prepared for the complexities of the modern world. I paraphrase international expert on leadership and school systems, Michael Fullan, who suggested recently that ‘the new moral imperative in education is not just being university ready, but rather becoming good at learning and good at life.’ At Nudgee College, I firmly believe that we are preparing young men who are good at both.”
The second celebration was Wednesday’s farewell day for the Year 12s. What a day Wednesday was with its many parts combining to make a day that was deeply significant for everyone who was present – the Year 12s and their fellow Nudgee College brothers, parents and families, as well as the staff. From House Assemblies at the start of the day, to the Chapel service for the Senior class, to the gathering of community on the heart shaped front lawns, to the guard of honour through the school to their final Assembly, it was a day of high emotion, with some sad and touching moments, happiness and fun, loving embraces and respect for those rituals of meaning and substance. We wish the Year 12s well for their final exams in the week ahead. Their departure from College is finalised with next week’s Valedictory Mass and Dinner.
This wonderful week will culminate in the Ladies’ Auxiliary Christmas Mass and Dinner this Saturday night. The Ladies’ Auxiliary, through their daily work in the Tuckshop, their commitment to catering at weekend sport events, as well as their events such as the Easter Morning Tea and the Long Lunch, provide invaluable support to the College and wonderful community support to each other. Saturday night will be an opportunity to celebrate their outstanding contribution.
STOP PRESS: Parents will become aware over the coming days of industrial action and work bans being put in place by the Independent Education Union (IEU). Disappointingly, the negotiating process associated with EB 9 has not resolved matters between the Catholic employing authorities around the State and the IEU. Consequently, union members recently voted to take protected action. These actions will not impact on classes and your son’s safety but will require some adjustment to administrative processes of day to day schooling. I am grateful for the actions of many teachers who will not be taking these actions.
Mr Peter Fullagar
Principal