From the Principal

Persistence

Dear Parents

At Kinross Wolaroi, we are committed to educating young people in a way that is both broad and purposeful. Our approach is grounded in a liberal and comprehensive education that challenges students intellectually, supports them pastorally and encourages them physically. Through a wide range of learning experiences, students are invited to stretch themselves, discover their strengths, and grow as individuals and as contributing members of society.

Our academic program is rigorous and balanced, designed to nurture curiosity, develop strong thinking skills and foster a deep sense of responsibility. We seek not only to educate the mind, but also to shape character. Alongside academic achievement, we place great importance on the development of personal qualities that will guide our students well beyond their school years – particularly integrity, resilience and moral purpose.

One of the key personal attributes we intentionally cultivate at Kinross Wolaroi is persistence. In classrooms, on the sporting field, in the arts and across our co‑curricular programs, students are encouraged to remain committed to a task until it is completed, regardless of difficulty or individual ability. Learning to persevere when challenges arise is a powerful habit, and one that builds confidence, self‑discipline and a strong work ethic.

Persistence, once developed, becomes a lifelong strength. It equips our students to face future challenges with determination and optimism and supports them to achieve their personal best in whatever path they choose to follow.

At a recent assembly, I spoke to students about the importance of persistence, drawing on four well‑known lines from William Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem 

Ladder of St Augustine:

The heights by great men reached and kept

Were not attained by sudden flight,

But they, while their companions slept,

Were toiling upward in the night.

These words remind us that genuine achievement is rarely the result of sudden success. They are not written solely for those who are academically gifted, naturally talented athletes or confident leaders for whom progress may come more easily. Rather, they speak to the far greater number of people who must work steadily at what they do - those for whom learning, improvement and success require sustained effort and commitment. That is most of us. 

Longfellow’s message is a powerful one. Success, in any field, is most often built quietly and patiently over time. It is the result of setting a goal and continuing to work towards it, even when progress feels slow, when challenges arise or when it might be easier to give up. Those who reach great heights – and, importantly, maintain high standards – are seldom overnight successes. More often, they are the individuals who keep going when others fall by the wayside, who persist under pressure, and who continue to work when the rest of the world appears to have paused.

This idea of persistence sits at the heart of our educational philosophy at Kinross Wolaroi. We want our students to understand that effort matters, that resilience is learned and that meaningful achievement is shaped through determination and self‑discipline.

The great athlete Jesse Owens captured this idea perfectly when he said, 

“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self‑discipline and effort.” 

If, as a school community, we continue to encourage our students to pursue their dreams with persistence and purpose, the benefits will extend far beyond the classroom – shaping young people who are prepared to face life’s challenges with confidence, courage and hope.

Yours sincerely

Timothy Kelly

Principal