From the Deputy Principal

It is lovely to see our students back at school and to be able to share stories about their holidays and their time spent with family and friends.  It's important to recharge and refocus for the new term.

At our Welcome and Leaders' Announcement assembly this week we witnessed a changing of the guard in our leadership group and I'd like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to all our leaders for 2021 who contributed so generously to our community this year.  We are all the richer for having shared your journey.

At assembly we heard, for the final time, from our Head Boy and Head Girl who shared their words of wisdom for the new leaders. I thought the reflections are particularly worth sharing.

Growing up I loved watching movies where the hero saves the day, Harry Potter, the incredibles, spy kids. These characters are admired for their courage and outstanding achievements, they were, what I thought, a true leader.  

Over time I’ve realised that being brave, popular and confident isn’t what makes a leader at all.  

Jesus, the hero of all heroes and leader of all leaders, revolutionised this idea by not coming to earth seated on a throne with a massive army and a fancy costume, but rather he was born into a poor family, in a stable.   Jesus came to serve, not to be served, putting others needs and desires before his own. American author, Tom Peters, put it this way, “a true leader doesn’t create followers, they create more leaders.”  

As we are about to announce the next student leaders for 2022, I want to ask you all, what kind of leader will you be? Will you strive to be the best, the loudest and the most confident? Or will you lift others up, listening to their thoughts and ideas, leading with an open mind and an open heart, willing to make mistakes, willing to learn and willing to improve. - Chloe Trend , Head Girl  

The best leaders are not the loud, obnoxious, and intimidating people. Rather, Philippians 2:3-4 says: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” This is how we should approach leadership, humbly and by being a positive role model for those around you. Good leaders are the people who serve when nobody is watching, seeking no recognition or praise.  Think of a leader you look up to in these different scenarios, they often won’t be the most academic, or the most athletic, they are rather the most self-less, putting others before themselves. With the announcement today of the formal leadership group for 2022, we begin the handover period, where we scale back our involvement and hand the reigns over to the next group of wonderful leaders. - Elijah Wesley, Head Boy

Mrs Emma Franklin | Deputy Principal