In about ten days time it will be September, this term will finish in September and of course before that it will be Father’s Day. It will be upon us before we realise it.

There is no metaphor for God in scripture that is more powerful than that of “Father”. Yet I am also conscious, since my own father passed nearly ten years ago now that some of our students and indeed our families may associate the term with their own pain of loosing a loved one or of abandonment. Father’s Day and indeed Mother’s Day can be difficult for some in our community, something we can often forget.

I recall some cartoon images from when I was a student at school where God was depicted more like a Grandfatherly figure sitting on a throne and another where God was shown as an older fatherly figure. For some reason these never really resonated with me then and certainly don’t now. Perhaps I understand why a little more now more than then though.

I am always inspired by our students and in particular those who have a deep faith that they freely express. I am not sure that I was as mature in my faith when their age. Each person is different though and each person’s faith journey is different, just as each individual’s relationship with their own father will be unique to them so too is each person’s relationship with God.

Having started my teaching career as an arts-technology teacher, I find myself falling back to some of the lessons I have learned and even taught students when viewing and writing about art works, especially the Renaissance works which were often religious works. I try to remember that all human imagery and language for God is contingent, that no single term or picture can be allowed to reduce God to one simple view or even a cartoon. The artist tries to reveal a glimpse of God but even Michelangelo recognized that his masterful skills were no match for coming close to being able to achieve this. With that in mind, I can happily remember the best things about my dad on father’s day, and know that every good thing in creation gives us a window into the mysterious and majestic heart of the Creator — a mother’s care, worry and protection towards her child, a wise king’s splendor, a gardener’s insight, a friend’s companionship, a shepherd’s protection ... a fire’s wonder, a starry sky’s grandeur, a mountain’s substance, the wind’s invisible power, water’s life-giving power ... and a father’s delight as he sees his son grow into a man he is proud of.

What we love most in life bears the signature of God, and in appreciating those things, in remembering and celebrating them, in loving them, I believe we are in fact loving God.

I started by commenting on the fact that it will be September soon and that this term will finish. For our Year 12 students this is a critical time as their time in school sees fewer days ahead than there are behind. While exciting, this can often be a nervous and anxious period of uncertainty. The workload for VCE students is quite immense from now until the end of the year. Social lives need to be scaled back in order for study time to become a daily part of the routine. The focus on establishing good study patterns should have commenced and a place to study in the house, free from distractions but still connected to the family for support. Healthy patterns of sleep coupled with diet are also critical. The involvement of family is the most significant aspect required for each student to achieve their best. Making time to help them revise, ask questions, proof read essays, discuss their work and what they are studying. All of these can assist in supporting a student who is undertaking a scored VCE to achieve their best as well as help with lessening the pressure they may feel.

The fear of the unknown or uncertain can impact any of us. For those students undertaking an Unscored VCE program or the VCAL, they should now be thinking about the next stages of their lives. Some will have decided to complete a Certificate or Diploma course at TAFE but this is not the cohort to which I am referring. Specifically it is the students who are looking to work full time, pick up an apprenticeship or study part time and work part time. Youth unemployment in Australia continues to increase. Students who are seeking an apprenticeship or job should be starting to prepare now. They should have the CV and covering letter written and know who to contact, where to contact them and how to follow up on their intended plans. They need to demonstrate a level of commitment and motivation to any potential employer which means representing themselves as a person that stands out from others applying for the same position. I have little doubt that our students can do this, they are an amazing group of young people who have had the benefit of a good education. Now is the time for them to be planning and to be discussing this with their family, seeking your advice and utilizing the contacts that families may already have. The Pathways Team will be supporting these students with a special skills program prior to their last day of school, we deem this necessary and as such compulsory in order that they enter into the job market equipped with the skills and knowledge required to obtain that much coveted position. So while those students completing the scored VCE and are undertaking study for exams and SACS, the remaining students still have as much work to do themselves. Truth be known, the latter is even more crucial and urgent as their need is more immediate.

I encourage families to start to discuss ‘what’s next’ with their Year 12 son or daughter. Let them know that they have your support during this time and throughout the next few months as they prepare for their lives after school. The College will be sending out a letter to all Year 12 families in the coming weeks to detail the Rites of Passage and expectations for students as we approach this period. I urge all families to take the time to sit down and to discuss the contents of the information we send out.

God Bless

Brendan J Watson OAM

Principal

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