From the Deputy Principal

Empowering Upstanders: Supporting a Safe and Inclusive School Community

We ended Semester 2 on a heartwarming note this week with our Upstander Morning Tea, celebrating students who have consistently demonstrated kindness, courage, and integrity in their everyday actions.

It's been genuinely uplifting to receive ongoing messages from staff, students, and members of the broader community, sharing moments where our students have stepped in to help, shown compassion, and done the right thing - often quietly, without seeking recognition. These small yet powerful acts speak to the heart of good citizenship and what it truly means to be an upstander.

Pleasingly, the number of students nominated as Upstanders has grown significantly, a clear sign that this message is not only being heard but embodied in the choices students make each day.

Across Term 1 and again this week, I spoke to students about the importance of positioning themselves as upstanders, not bystanders. I asked them to reflect honestly on how they position themselves. Choosing to stay on the sidelines might seem easier - to turn a blind eye, to move on - but doing so enables poor behaviour to continue unchecked. It’s a choice that lacks courage and undermines our shared values.

Being an upstander, on the other hand, means choosing action - not necessarily in grand or dramatic ways, but through everyday decisions that build a more respectful and inclusive environment. It means speaking up when someone is being mistreated, challenging disrespectful language, offering help when it's needed, and standing firm against racism, sexism, homophobia, and all forms of discrimination or anti-social behaviour.

Being an upstander isn't always comfortable or easy - but it’s always right. It’s how we foster a school culture where everyone feels seen, safe, and valued.

Let’s continue to look out for one another. Let’s choose what’s right, even when it’s hard.

I look forward to continuing the tradition of our Upstander Morning Teas each term - and to seeing more and more students recognised for living out our college values with quiet strength and purpose. Thank you to Mr Ticli and Ms Fromager for their organisation of this special celebration.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” Proverbs 31:8

Ms Elizabeth Watson - Deputy Principal