GROWING STRONGER TOGETHER

If I asked you to define the word culture, what springs to mind? Perhaps you think immediately of a positive culture you have been a part of - a community group, sporting team or youth group. Perhaps you recall a negative experience - a toxic culture you’ve encountered at a workplace, school or dare I say it, family gathering!

One of my favourite quotes that describes culture is, ‘The way we do things around here’ (Deal, 2009). This simple definition essentially tries to coin what can be hard to articulate - what a place looks like, feels like, sounds like…you know, the vibe of the place. Culture is a peculiar thing, because as difficult as it is to define, if we don’t attempt to name it, our culture risks becoming what we are willing to tolerate. 

Over the past year, staff have spent a lot of time thinking about what defines our BHCS culture. 

This year, with the merging of previous middle and senior schools into a unified secondary school, there is an opportunity to intentionally and contemplatively explore what we want our secondary school to be. However, a culture can’t be upheld by staff alone - it involves all of our community - including parents and students. 

So, what do I hope for 2024 for our secondary school to be? I hope and pray that in the spirit of Growing Stronger Together (our 2024 theme!), our secondary students approach their learning with courage and curiosity. Growth involves a constant state of renewal - of letting go of that which needs to be pruned from our lives whilst embracing the opportunity of what is to come. Romans 12:2 states, “Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” 

This scripture indicates that true transformation occurs when we are seeking growth and change in our lives. Yes, teachers desire to see our students grow in their knowledge, but more importantly, we seek to see our students grow in wisdom - this is true transformation. 

Personally, I know the deepest joys I’ve experienced as an educator is not when I see a student achieve an A+, but when I see a student approaching their learning with a growth mindset - allowing challenges and setbacks to help propel them forward rather than shut them down. I certainly feel a sense of pride when students make healthy choices and act kindly towards each other, but I feel an equal sense of pride when a student willingly owns their mistakes and seeks to make amends. All of these micro experiences in the life of a school can have a transformative impact on individuals, and on culture. We grow stronger together when we share both the triumphs and the challenges in equal measure, cheering each other along the way.