Deputy Principal

Finishing Well

As we approach the final two and a half weeks, I encourage all students to finish the year off well. There can be a tendency as students and families get tired after our first full year in class for three years to let our standards drop. One thing I know from experience is that if we let our standards drop, that is often when students make poor decisions. You may get comments from your sons like ‘it doesn’t matter, we are not doing anything in class anyway’ or ‘I am going to go and get this haircut, no one will care, it is the end of the year’. 

In order to be consistent, I ask for parents’ support to relay the same message to your sons as I and the rest of the staff will be doing. The expectation is that staff will be teaching through to the last period of the last day of class. I would also expect the same standards in grooming and uniforms on the last day of the school year as I would on the first day of the school year. That is, every student should be well presented in the correct uniform with appropriate haircuts. I would want my last conversation with a student to be a positive experience, reflecting on a good year, rather than a negative conversation because the student has made a poor decision. 

My prayers and thoughts like yours have been with the Gray family this week, as we all come to terms with the loss of their beloved son and brother Archer. I know the students at the College are also struggling to come to terms with the loss of Archer. It was uplifting to see the boys and staff look after each other last week when they found out about his passing. There was a real sense of community. The road ahead will not be easy but I am comforted by the fact that I know the staff and students will continue to look out for each other and support the Gray family.

Adrian Byrne

Deputy Principal