Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

I am sure that you will join with me in congratulating our 2025 student leaders who were announced on Tuesday at Assembly.

As a College, ‘student voice’ or advocacy is such an integral part of our fabric.  We look to our students to communicate their vision for Clayfield as we celebrate the present and create the future. I have really enjoyed the opportunity to hear from many of the classes of 2025 about their dreams, aspirations and vision for the College during the leadership selection journey.  As a member of this community, we are all leaders.  It is not about the title or position that you may or may not hold but rather how you behave and uphold the College values, especially when nobody is watching. 

So why do we have leaders?

Some would say that it is tribal.  We all like to feel that we belong, that we click with those around us as we share common traditions, symbols and language. Leaders help us to identify, understand and refine our purpose. They shape culture by supporting each of us to make sense of everything which is going on around us, removing barriers or threats, and celebrating our achievements.  Leaders are often willing to sacrifice their own comfort for others, they are the ones who often give up something of their own.

Part of leadership is however also learning to deal with disappointment, developing the skills to navigate challenges, at times feeling uncomfortable and refining the way we learn from intelligent failure. By embracing these bumps, it helps develop teams where each member is accountable and in turn creates a culture which fosters psychological safety.

What we each must strive to achieve – and my challenge to the Class of 2025, whether or not you hold a titled leadership position – is to embrace and cultivate a culture of trust throughout your senior year at Clayfield. It is so important that we all remember that true leadership is the responsibility of everyone who belongs to the tribe. It is about how you show up each and every day.

For the students in Year 11, I congratulate and acknowledge each of you who courageously put your name forward for a leadership position. It takes real guts and vulnerability to stand before your peers and bear your soul. Whilst some of the students will be selected for key leadership positions for 2025, the whole Year 12 cohort are the College leaders and important role models of the College. 

I am excited about the leadership journey ahead and I look forward to heading into 2025 alongside the student leadership team for the next steps in their Clayfield journey. 

On a separate note, I am delighted to share that Ms Tina Mills has been appointed Assistant Head of Boarding, commencing January 2025. Tina will work closely with our Head of Boarding, Mrs Kathryn Searle, to ensure the continued safe, happy, and positive environment for our boarding students, in addition to the smooth and efficient daily operations of the Boarding House. Tina is already a familiar face at the Boarding House, frequently visiting after school, and I am confident the Boarding community will warmly welcome her into this new role.

Kind regards,

Dr Andrew Cousins

Principal

To our Class of 2025: we can’t wait to see you let your light shine while you lead Clayfield College through next year!