This week has been dominated by the annual College photos. And like the students, I too feel the pressure to look my best as we capture a moment in the year that will serve as a reminder for years to come. It also makes me reflect on the importance of relationships. Our friends, colleagues and siblings in particular. Watching older students hold the hands of their younger brothers and sisters as they queue for their family shot is beautiful. Equally, seeing families disembark from the College buses in the morning is just as poignant. Older brothers and sisters, older students assisting younger ones as they climb down what can appear to be very big steps reflects the thoughtfulness and care that I hope you will see reflected in the photos when they are available.
Relationships are at the heart of what we do. Students do not learn well without feeling valued and known. A highlight for me over the last fortnight has been learning from a boy in Year 1. He has been visiting my office on a Thursday to help me with my football tips. Each time he has brought a different group of friends and they come and share so much more than their thoughts about who will win on the weekend. They give me a glimpse into the wonderful learning that is taking place, their excitement about the word of the week or finding their way from one side of the College to another. They tell me what they want to be when they grow up and they are obviously gaining confidence in reading and communication skills. It is a joy but more than that, it captures a moment in their lives as they learn.
You may have seen that four of our older students were interviewed for an article in the Sydney Morning Herald this week too. The reporter was keen to unpack the length of HSC exams and wanted their thoughts on whether three-hour exams were still relevant. It was an opportunity for them to apply their learning to a real-world context. Interestingly the students reflected that longer exams provided the opportunity to showcase their learning. We did talk about the importance of understanding that we are all different though and for some, their length is more challenging. No conclusions were reached but the experience was captured in a wonderful photo that represented a moment in the life of these students.
I do trust that you will appreciate the learning and growth of all our students in this edition of the newsletter.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
- Ecclesiastes 3:1
