I hope you have enjoyed a wonderful break with your families and that you are looking forward to another term at the College. The grounds are quiet and empty without the students and it has been lovely to welcome them back this week.
This term is an important one for our Year 12 students who have HSC Trials in a few weeks, time to receive feedback and refinement in their learning before we farewell them at the end of the term. I would like to commend them to you. They are a great year group and they have been excellent role models and leaders of the Senior School this year. Please pray for them.
Like many, I have been enjoying the hype and excitement about the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Thank you for supporting our mufti-day fund raiser and helping our students to get into the spirit of supporting our young men and women as they represent our country. I have been inspired by the stories that are being shared about athletes. My reasoning? Because all of them have had to make sacrifices, they have had to be very intentional about their commitment and work effort. These are character traits that we can all aspire to even without the physical ability to compete at such levels.
As I reflect on the stories I also reflect on what this means for our students. How can we work together to promote positive interactions, healthy behaviours and self-respect in our young people today? I believe it starts with role models and consistent messaging about what is possible as well as good routines. I want to encourage you, at the start of a new semester, to have set times for homework, set times for exercise and set times for relaxation. Whilst we may not all reach the heights of those in the Olympics, we can all reach the heights of personal best results, following the same principles.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
Persistence in doing good, even when it is challenging, is a testament to our faith, for in due season we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
