Principal
For this week’s newsletter, I include some excerpts from Tuesday night’s Awards Night speech:
Nudgee men, tonight we recognise and congratulate you on your academic achievements as well as leadership and service in diverse dimensions of school life. It’s my hope that at the core of that successful learning is an open mind and a generous heart. Tonight’s awards validate the outcome of your learning. More important to your long term success and happiness is the process of learning; the skills you employ to learn rather than the learning of content itself.
Research is telling us this. The World Economic Forum in their Future of Work study in 2020 identified the Top 10 Skills that will be needed in 2025. They are listed on the screen for you. Broadly speaking, they are classified in four baskets: Problem solving, Self management, Working with people and Technology use and development.
You will soon be entering a workforce that is being transformed by the multiple influences of this technology such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, blockchain and bitcoin, edge computing and digital skills … to name just a few. While this is true, it is also the case that only two of the top 10 skills listed for you, relate directly to technology. The rest are thinking skills, people skills and skills in managing yourself. They are the skills that Dyson and his company have applied to be successful and inventive. They happen to also be the skills that Nudgee College reinforces through our Learning and Teaching Framework.
This core business occurs within our mission as a school. That mission is to be a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition and therefore a school with a clear set of values. These values or touchstones are intrinsic to our school culture. Being a ‘Sign of Faith’ is not just something that we sing about. It has to be lived everyday wherever Nudgee men find themselves. In this our 130th year, it was timely that the College undertook the EREA School Renewal Process in May. Renewal was an opportunity for others to observe us, to assess our authenticity and the lived reality of students, staff and parents. In summary the Panel made the following comment:
Nudgee College was accredited as an outstanding Catholic School in the Edmund Rice Tradition … and we are to be commended for the commitment that is made daily to the realisation of an authentic, innovative learning community. This has been clearly articulated in the words, views, actions and challenges presented by each group as well as in the dynamic activity of classrooms and other areas of college life.
This commendation is indicative that our 130th year has been one of continued success, accomplishment and progress. From a long list I highlight the following from 2021:
- The completion of significant construction projects
- The successful NSSAB audit review
- The Review of Learning Support Structures and our Identity & Mission program
- The reshaping of the Year 12 student leadership framework
- The hosting of the Da Vinci Decathlon
- The enrolment of over 1,700 students
- The excitement generated by The High School Musical – On Stage!
- The vibe of the NC creatives@twilight initiative
- The extraordinary participation rate of students across the co-curricular program as well as our success in GPS Swimming and Track & Field championships and the consistent placing in the top three of numerous sports
- The community celebration of our 130th Year in April, the weekly Reflections post on our facebook and the recent publication of Reflections, the commemorative book.
In conclusion, we marked our 130th year with the raising of the Great Cross in the Old Boy’s Mall. Its imposing stature reflects a clear message. It is a message of gratitude and faith-filled hope. Gratitude for those who have gone before us but also a faith-filled hope, in the present and the future. A faith-filled hope that our community will continue to strengthen our mission as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition. A mission that aims to offer a Liberating Education, based on a Gospel Spirituality, within an Inclusive Community that is committed to Justice and Solidarity.
At Nudgee College that means being Signum Fidei and striving to be a Sign of Faith to all. This has defined and enriched us in 2021; just as it has for the past 130 years. With God’s blessing it will do so again in 2022. I look forward to sharing that journey with you.
Mr Peter Fullagar
Principal