FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Term 3 - Week 1

NAIDOC Week

Welcome to a week long celebration of our Indigenous culture. A culture, regardless of our heritage, we can be proud of and commit to learning more about. 

The NAIDOC 2022 theme – Get up, Stand up, Show up! – calls for all of us to amplify our voices and narrow the gap between aspiration and reality, good intent and outcome. We need to move beyond just acknowledgement, empty words, promises and hollow commitments. 

The 2022 theme calls for action. Action in seeking proper environmental, cultural and heritage protections. Action in constitutional change. Action in a comprehensive process of truth-telling. Action in working towards treaties and action in calling out racism.

How can we at St Nicholas Get up, Stand up and Show up? How can we take action? How can children be expected to take action on issues many adults know little about, let alone believe they have the capacity to execute any change?

William McRaven, a US Navy SEAL of 37 years, once said “If you want to change the world ... start by making your bed”. These simple words are so important to us at St Nicholas. If we want to Get Up, Stand Up, Show up, if we want to follow the call for action, if we want to improve the lives and living conditions for all Australians - let’s do it by small actions which we can control. Like William McRaven committed himself to making his bed each day, can we at St Nicholas commit to "valuing, respecting and caring for each other”?

To “value, respect and care for”, is the second of St Nicholas' three rules with which we live by. If we believe the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non‑Indigenous Australians needs to be based on justice, equity, and the proper recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights, let’s start by valuing, respecting and caring for each other at St Nicholas. Before we call for change in others, let us model every minute what it means to “value, respect and care for each other" at St Nicholas.

Each one of us here at St Nicholas can “value, respect and care for each other”! If we commit to doing this each and every day, we can one day in the future boast - we did get up, we did stand up and we certainly showed up.

Thank you to Mr Trevor French for his organisation of a wonderful week. Your passion and commitment to celebrating your culture is a credit to you and your family. On behalf of all our students, indigenous and non indigenous - thank you!

Welcome Mrs Felicity Sayad and Mrs Belinda Stimson

With the retirement of Mrs Robyn Burke and the relocation of Mrs Shauna Lee to Brisbane St Nicholas School undertook a thorough review and audit of our financial and administrative services. With a new structure I am delighted to welcome Mrs Felicity Sayad and Mrs Belinda Stimson to our team at St Nicholas School.

Felicity and Belinda will join Mrs Emily Crockett on the front desk as receptionists.  I am sure you will join me in welcoming both Felicity and Belinda.

Athletics Carnival

The 2022 St Nicholas School Athletics Carnival was a fitting way to conclude Term 2. The carnival is just one example of how we promote an active and healthy lifestyle at St Nicholas. Congratulations to everyone who competed. 

An enormous thank you to Mrs Belinda Tyrrell and her band of many helpers for coordinating such a successful day. Thank you to the PT&F for their canteen services. Thank you to all our parents and carers who were able to volunteer their time, whether fulfilling a job or simply supporting their child. Enjoy our highlights video below.

John Clery

PRINCIPAL