DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - COMMUNITY & CULTURE

Fostering a Stronger School Community: A Message from the Deputy Principal of Community & Culture

As we continue to navigate the exciting year ahead, I want to take a moment to reflect on the importance of our school culture and the role each one of us plays in building a supportive and inclusive community.

Our school is more than just a place for academic learning; it is a space where we grow together, celebrate our differences, and learn from each other. Recently I had the privilege of attending a meeting with other members of Josephite school communities. Here we spent time in dialogue, discussing the Josephite Charism. One of the ideas that I took away with me is the notion of ‘compassion’ and ‘dignity’ for all in our community, which are part of our school’s core values. 

Our patron saint Mary MacKillop welcomed everyone at her schools. She didn't care how they looked or who they were, she cared about the person’s dignity – what was on the inside. How can we also care for everyone's human dignity? We can respect people for what they are, and not worry about what they wear. One way many schools, including ours, attempts to answer this question is ensuring all students wear our school uniform. 

What is a uniform and why do we have one? I am glad you asked. 

A uniform generates a sense of equality, where students are respected for their character and abilities rather than what they wear. This uniformity helps reduce peer pressure and bullying related to clothing choices, allowing students to concentrate on what truly matters – their education. When parents enrol their students in our college, they sign the enrolment papers, which states that they agree to the school policies and procedures, including an agreement to the uniform policy, that they will ensure their child will not only wear their uniform correctly but with pride. 

Since the last newsletter, I have seen a significant reduction of flashy earrings and more plain sleepers and studs, so thank you very much for supporting the school in our endeavours to make all feel equal with their peers. 

Just yesterday I had a fantastic lesson with my year 7 RE class. They are terrific students and have lots of really interesting questions, and the topic of the uniform came up. One student asked me why are you able to wear beautiful dangling earrings when we can’t. So, I opened this question to others and we had a great discussion. I informed the students that teachers and all staff had to comply to professional dress. I talked about ideas like Occupational Health and Safety, and why some teachers wore a teacher uniform with runners such as our PE teachers, while others might have steel cap boots because they teach woodwork. For me I can’t wear shoes with no backs and all teachers cannot wear denim. While I can wear other earrings, I must comply with other rules. Then I discussed with them the idea of dignity and equality. They got it and the conversation ended as fast as it had started with everyone happy. 

It is the nature of teenagers to question everything and rebel, it is up to us as adults to show them by example and  gently guide them into doing the right thing.  

As your Deputy Principal of Community and Culture my primary goal is to create an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to be their true selves. This is not only vital for our students but also for our staff and families who contribute so much to our vibrant community.

Building Positive Relationships

At the heart of our culture is the belief that strong relationships are the foundation for success. This year, we are placing a significant emphasis on fostering mutual respect between students, staff, and families. Whether through classroom activities, school events, or extracurricular programs, we are committed to creating spaces where everyone can engage with each other in meaningful ways. 

We encourage all students to get involved in school life, as this is one of the best ways to feel connected and make lasting friendships. Our diverse range of clubs, sports teams, and leadership opportunities provide a variety of avenues for personal growth and community involvement.

Support Needed 

Part of having mutual respect for each other is being honest and reliable. Recently, there have been a number of students, who have been taking it upon themselves to leave the school grounds to go to the shops or to buy lunch, under the guise of ‘appointment’. Often these students will do the right thing and sign out but inform the receptionist that they have an appointment. Only to be seen down the street by teachers on excursions, or they are reported by other students, who know where they are going. 

We have a terrific canteen, all students can access food from there. They could also bring food from home. If a student has forgotten to bring lunch or have no money on them, they can see our Pastoral Care team to assist. 

If I could ask all parents to notify the school of genuine appointments only. The school has duty of care of your children, and we do not want anything bad happening to them while they are down the street buying McDonalds or the like, without supervision. I feel sorry for the students who couldn’t duck down to get take away food like KFC, watching others eat it in front of them, this is not respecting fellow students. 

Looking Ahead

As we move forward, I remain committed to working alongside our incredible staff, students, and families to ensure that our school remains a place where every individual can succeed and feel connected. I am excited about the year ahead and all the opportunities it brings to strengthen our school culture and community.

Thank you for your continued support and for being such an integral part of our vibrant school family.

Kath Jones

Deputy Principal Community & Culture