PRINCIPALS REPORT

From the Principal Team

Dear Families, Students, and Friends, 

As the year draws to a close, and we finally allow ourselves to take the foot off the pedal, it is now we truly feel the weariness and emotional exhaustion that 2020 has imposed on us.

I compare it to a run, a charity marathon. We enrol in the event as a community, aiming to achieve our personal best, all the while knowing that we are raising money for a specific cause or goal.

We begin knowing it will be hard, with unexpected obstacles - strong winds that can slow us down and hold us back, large crowds stifling our running rhythm, rain that diminishes our vision like tears streaking down our faces. Always optimistic but never quite sure how the day will pan out. That has been our year.

2020 was one out of the box. We were tested. There were personal challenges for every member of our college community. Adapting to working and learning from home was just the start. Staying apart from our loved ones exacerbated the sense of isolation. And unlike a run, this was not a linear experience. We had no real sense of where the finish line was. Yet we persevered. As on a long-distance run, we show stamina and dig deep. When the body begins to ache, instead of focusing on the pain, we push on. One foot in front of the other.

Runners are in it together. While abilities vary, tolerance, acceptance and understanding add to the sense of camaraderie. So for the year about to end, it has been a long run indeed! Many have slowed, many have struggled and perhaps for many, personal bests can only be measured against the unique circumstances in which they have been achieved. The finish line is in sight and as a community we have to continue to support each other. Many have experienced loss, illness, or having to care for loved ones, all the while facing emotional, physical and psychological challenges.

The Brighton Secondary College community has shown resilience. We have supported and encouraged each other and above all else shown kindness, understanding and empathy.

As this is the last edition of Highlights for the year, we want to take the opportunity to thank staff, students, and parents for all their hard work in getting through 2020 together. The overwhelming majority of students have taken the opportunities that this school presented to them through the toughest year in education. They have engaged positively in a diverse range of teaching and learning methods and personal learning opportunities which has allowed them to grow as young scholars and, more broadly, as productive people in society.

A heartfelt thank you to our students, staff, and families. We wish you a wonderful summer break.

Sincerely,

The Principal Team