Boarding 

Although Year 12 have final preparations for their HSC to complete, we officially transition from our 2021 to our 2022 Boarding leaders at the end of this term. This week Boarding Houses are hosting online farewells for their Year 12 students while introducing their future leaders. This provides the opportunity for us to thank our senior students and allows time to reflect on their contributions in boarding for many the last six years. 

We have had some wonderful leaders this year, all of whom have brought their own approaches and styles to the roles. As they continue in their lives and their leadership journeys it is important that the students consider, what is the legacy that they have left at the school? What effect have their actions and behaviours had on the culture of the school and particularly the boarding community? Our Year 12 boarders have had a challenging final two years and they have still been able to express the things they are grateful for. 

During difficult times it takes special leaders to be strong and empathetic. In the words of Jacinda Ardern:

“One of the criticisms I’ve faced over the years is that I’m not aggressive enough or assertive enough or maybe somehow, because I’m empathetic, it means I’m weak. I totally rebel against that. I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong”. 

As a community we express our sincere thank you to the Year 12 students for their resilience, positivity and commitment under very trying circumstances. 

We particularly wish to acknowledge our leaders for all the support and guidance they have provided over the last 12 months:

To our Year 12 students into the future, I say this ... 

Find something that you are really passionate about. This gives you a strong sense of purpose and it is a big part of happiness. To do that, you need to be honest with yourself, observant, and make the most out of a situation. 

Find the smartest people you can and surround yourself with them. You will be challenged to do your best and they will elevate your thinking. Smart people will challenge you to think harder and in entirely different ways. 

Find allies rather than admirers. You can choose to surround yourself with admirers who are easy to be around but never tell you when you have made an error. Instead, seek out allies who are honest with you when you feel you are not living up to your potential; people who challenge you to be the best you can be. 

Find the courage to do things you are not ready to do. Doing something you are not ready to do isn't comfortable. But in pushing through this discomfort you will learn a lot more about yourself. You learn you can do something you did not think you could do, or you'll learn where your limits are. Either is valuable. It's important to push through that uneasiness because that's how you really grow and you really reach.

You can help others find things. Be an information fountain. Power comes from sharing information. Sharing leads to connection, connection leads to collaboration, collaboration leads to creativity and innovation.

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead”. 

Nelson Mandela

To all our boarding families, have a wonderful holiday and a well-deserved break from screens.