Principal
In last week’s newsletter, I reflected on the notion that our actions need to reflect our values. Equally, these same actions build our school culture.
‘Culture is a set of living relationships working toward a shared goal. It’s not something you are. It’s something you do.’(The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups - Daniel Coyle)
My experience in schools has taught me that school culture is influenced most by the actions of the quiet achievers who make up the vast majority of the student population. Schools certainly need high achievers and good school leaders. However, it is in the middle ground of achievement where the majority of the students are placed that the greatest improvement can be made. Small improvements in a large number of students makes for a significant gain across a year level, a house group or a cohort of students. A positive and enriching school culture is grounded in the majority of boys who do the little things well day in and day out. They are the boys who do the right thing when nobody's watching. They may not be the boys who achieve first place or the gold award but they are boys who try to the best of their abilities and seek ongoing improvement.
Given this perspective, the action of presenting Principal’s Awards based on the criteria of academic improvement reflects what we value in our students. At the same time, as Coyle suggests, we are building the culture of the school. This improvement award is based on the difference in results between Semester 2, 2020 and Semester 1, 2021. In many respects, it parallels the Team Man Award that we present at the conclusion of each sports season. We are honouring what we value most in our young man. Hopefully, the Principal’s Awards act as an incentive to the vast majority of our boys - the quiet achievers. Congratulations to all those boys who were presented on Tuesday.
Some other noteworthy points from the week:
- Thank you to the large number of Year 12 parents who participated in the online Information Night on Monday evening. We hope that the information that was shared enables all Year 12s to successfully negotiate the final months of their schooling journey.
- Well done to Morgan Chippendale and Cameron Reppel (both Year 12 boarders) who shared personal stories of vulnerability on assembly in such an authentic manner. Cameron’s appeal for mates to look after each other from a mental health perspective resonated with all of us.
- Behind the scenes on Wednesday the College undertook the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board (NSSAB) external validation process. This is a very important undertaking and the preparation has occurred over many months. This process has been very capably led by Deputy Principal, Mr David Johnston, and supported by Ms Donna Roberts, our Compliance Officer. Both of them have committed countless hours to getting the extensive documentation together. Given the quality of the documentation of our policies and procedures the external validator has recommended that we are accredited for a further five years. We await confirmation of this recommendation from NSSAB.
Finally, many in the community were thrilled to see Old Boy Will Martin’s success overnight. Will kicked off the Australian Swimming Team’s competition at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics with a Gold Medal in the very first event of the meet in the S9 400m Freestyle in a New Paralympic Record and massive best time of 4:10.25. He now has three rest days before his 50m Freestyle on Sunday and then 4x100 free relay on Monday. We wish him well for these events and look forward to welcoming both Will and NCOB 2012 & Olympic Silver medallist, Jack McLoughlin, back to the school later this year.
Mr Peter Fullagar
Principal
