From the Principal

Congratulations to the following Secondary students for their wonderful achievement in the Australian Geography Competition:

High Distinction – Jeremy Prajogo (top 3%), Alison Crowley (top 8%), William Morris (top 8%)

Distinction – George Richardson, Angus Richardson

Credit – Lucy Abetz, Elsie Holland, Andrew Laing, Ryan Tong, Elvy Wilcox, Reuben Carter, Krishna Chandran, Zoe Clune, Aidan Fromholtz, Jonah Gorman, Timothy Prajogo

When presenting the awards, Dr Priest reminded us that the study of Geography is so special because it involves the study of God’s amazing creation and of human interaction with creation. God created us to enjoy a special relationship with Him and the world he made.

Resilience 2

A focus in Secondary over the past few weeks has been unpacking the dispositions within the Thrive Framework which are connected to our College values. Over the course of the term, I have been focusing on the Courage dimension. I wrote in the newsletter last week about resilience. While it is about bouncing back, pushing through or overcoming setbacks, it is also about keeping a focus on the goal towards which you are striving.

At this week’s Secondary Assembly, I told students about a book I read in my early teens that had a lasting impact on me. My Left Foot is the autobiography of Christy Brown who was born in Dublin in the 1930s with severe cerebral palsy. His mother was encouraged to leave him in a care home, but she took Christy home to be raised with his 21 siblings. Christy had limited motor control through most of his body but, over time, developed an amazing capacity to use his left foot to undertake a range of daily tasks. He also learned to write and paint and became an acclaimed artist and poet. I was amazed at the courage of Christy and at the support of his family and friends that enabled him to overcome challenges and engage in activities that he loved and gave him fulfilment.

With the Paralympics commencing this week, we will hear many amazing stories of young people who have faced significant challenges as we see them achieve amazing feats. I shared with students some of the story of Ahmed Kelly who was adopted from an orphanage in Bagdad, with a physical disability that resulted from exposure to chemical weapons in-utero. Ahmed was adopted by an Australian Aid worker and so came to live in Australia. Alexia Leary was a talented young triathlete who experienced a brain injury because of a cycling accident. When I have seen these athletes interviewed, I have been struck by the joy that radiates from them.

I want to encourage our students to remember that while we are all made in the image of God, we are all different. We have a unique profile of strengths, interests and passions. I pray that each of our students can both experience and radiate joy as they learn and grow and especially as they learn more about how they can use the talents with which God has equipped them. We want to encourage them to be thankful for their many blessings, especially during times of frustration or setbacks.

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Jodie Bennett

Principal