Wellbeing - Senior School

2026 Student Leadership Workshop

With the Class of 2026 receiving their Black Ties last week, we are reminded of its symbolic meaning, not just of leadership, but of unity, responsibility, and service. For the Student Leadership Team in particular, the journey of the next twelve months began with the annual Student Leadership Workshop: two days that challenged us to reflect, grow, and plan for the year ahead.

This incredible experience helped empower each of us to fulfil our potential as leaders, not only to learn how to lead others, but to understand what it truly means to serve our community. Each activity delved deeply into the serious responsibility of being considered a leader and representative of the College, with liturgies, advice, lessons, and the wisdom of those before us.

We discovered the importance of collaborating and acting as a collective. The Student Leadership Team is not just a group; it is a team. As such, each individual acts like one cog in a machine. While they turn individually, the machine only works if each cog interacts and turns the next.

What stood out most was how quickly our team began to connect. Everyone came in with their own ideas, but once we started talking, it was clear how much stronger those ideas became when combined. Choosing the College theme for 2026 was the biggest test of this. We did not all agree at first, but by listening, debating, and compromising, we were able to reach a decision, one that we are proud of, and a theme that we feel encapsulates us as a College community and our goals for the year ahead.

Even though the day focused mainly on the Student Leadership Team, the idea of leadership stemmed heavily from the upcoming Year 12s, now sporting their new symbolic Black Ties. The presence of the tie reminds us that every student in the Year 11 cohort now has the chance to lead by example, inspire younger years, and shape the spirit of our community together, leaving behind a collective legacy that goes far beyond any individual.

We are extremely grateful to Ms Santiago, Mr Biviano and Mr Byrne for not only lending us their valuable time, but also their priceless personal wisdom. Their guidance through these days of reflection and discovery encouraged us to think differently and deeply, step outside our comfort zones, and recognise that leadership is a journey of growth rather than a title or a badge.

With the foundational knowledge we gained from this workshop, the 2026 Student Leadership Team looks forward to the year ahead, ready to serve and leave a lasting mark on the College community.

Nino Di Girolamo (2026 Rice Prefect) | Dann Wilson (2026 Berg Prefect)