Students & Wellbeing

A site to behold

Autumn is often described as a time of change and for St George’s it signals the approach of our move to our new facilities at 441 Murray Street. I was lucky enough to visit the new school twice this week and I can say this is the most impressive education establishment I have seen in my 30 years in the profession. However, change can be challenging for many people and should you have any concerns regarding the move please don’t hesitate to contact me or another member of the pastoral care team.

Since my last article we have celebrated our patronal festival with not one but two St George’s Days. The chapel services were respectfully attended and can I congratulate our two winners of the Spirit of St George’s  Award.

Senior Award: Henry Beck, Year 12

Junior Award: Harrison Smith, Year 9

These awards are voted by staff and recognise those students who are always willing to do what is right. Not what is easy. Their names will be added to the school honour boards as ongoing recognition of their service to our community. They uphold the school values of Wisdom, Grace and Service on a daily basis and are wholeheartedly worthy recipients of this significant annual award. 

When not in chapel on St George’s Days, our students were all involved in a range of service-learning activities. This is a new initiative brought to life by our Camp and Service Learning Coordinator, Miss Sadie Yoxall.  They were a huge success and started a new tradition for what St George’s Day will look like for the future.

I would also like to remind our families that we have the SchoolTV online support still available. It contains a wide variety of articles, videos and reports from respected sources on many of the challenges our students, and therefore their families, are facing each day. The site recently added an outstanding piece on healthy masculinity; something that should be viewed by all. The term toxic masculinity has become a constant headline, and I worry that our young men, and women, do not know what to do or how to interact with one another without fearing repercussions. It is the adults in their lives that must guide and reassure them, and this article is a wonderful way to start a conversation at home with our young people.

Also, our Senior students are about to head into their Semester One exams. Firstly, I wish them all success but also acknowledge that this can be a time of great stress. Please reach out for help if you are facing challenges and again SchoolTv has some excellent support material.

“We are ever capable of change and ever capable of being our better selves.”

Mr Ian Thompson

Dean of Students & Wellbeing