The Importance of Teachers

At times teachers get a poor ‘rap’ from society. This can relate to increasing societal ills, disappointment in student growth and progress, talk of lowering standards or perceptions of hours worked or salary paid. It may also be that some of us adults had poor experiences with individual teachers when we were at school or that current education doesn’t seem to measure up to the ‘good old days’. The hardest thing can be that members of the community expect schools and teachers to solve every problem with children and so expectations are very high. What can be lost is the complexity of teaching today and the requirement for teachers to assist with cyber safety, technology, sex education, road safety, social-emotional learning and the increasing diagnosis of students with a variety of learning needs, just to mention a few.

During COVID, many parents grew an increased appreciation of the work undertaken by teachers. The esteem in which the profession was held was much higher. Having kids at home and seeing teachers operate via Zoom was quite a revelation. Sadly, recent data indicates that this effect has diminished a bit and that general confidence in teachers to manage students, in an age of growing anxiety, is lower.

I am not an advocate of the ‘Super Hero’ teacher ‘myth’ though I acknowledge that some in our profession (and even in our school) are characters who students love, admire, want to have them teach them and who make a big difference to the learners. Not every teacher is like this but there are many teachers who are great because they:

Know students and their needs
Understand what is required to help learning
Provide confidence and assistance
Are fair, consistent and respectful
Listen to their students
Speak the truth in love
Model the expectations they set for the students
Keep the end goal in sight.

I am certain that parents and students could add other things to this list.

In our School, an aspect of ‘’Excellence in a Christian environment is also that teachers model Christian virtues, as the reality is often (for parents and teachers) that children learn and grow from the adults around them. We can’t expect students to be different from the adult behaviour they observe. This is true of students at all ages, but particularly in the early teen years, where the adolescents move to use peers and social media to set their expectations of acceptability. Because we are a boarding school, the staff after hours have added responsibility in this area.

The reality of all this is that Calrossy seeks to employ outstanding teachers and establish a culture of high expectations. Our Strategic goal of Learning in Partnership speaks to the critical relationship between students and teachers, but it also emphasises the key role that parents play in this as well. So much educational research demonstrates that when teachers and parents work closely together, the outcomes for children, at all ages and stages, is greatly enhanced. I am grateful for the staff and parents at Calrossy and I am delighted that this year has allowed us to collaborate more in creating a context and environment in which children will grow and thrive. My encouragement to parents in the New Year is to get involved as much as possible next year, as this will enhance our community and reinforce our important partnership. The winners will be the children.

In writing all this I also want to affirm the work of teachers and the excellent things that I observe taking place across Calrossy, for their love of learning and students, for their modelling of high expectations and for their dedication to student success.

Farewells

At the end of every school year we farewell students and teachers. Having just written that I don’t necessarily believe in Super Hero teachers, I want to commend two of our number:

Our Deputy Principal, Mr Mark Doran is not leaving Calrossy (to my relief) but after 22 years in this role, he is stepping down to take on other responsibilities. Mark has been the most outstanding Deputy and a ‘rock’ of the school leadership over many years. He has supported the school through a challenging amalgamation, the death of a Principal, supported the commencement and orientation of two new Principals, and seen us through drought and significant recent growth. The combination of wisdom, management, impartiality, consistency and administrative genius has been invaluable. He is a most creative teacher and possesses a quirky sense of humour, not always appreciated by Secondary students in his Deputy role. Much of his work has been unseen. Most importantly he has shone in terms of humility, Godliness and consistent character, in what can be a tricky role. Mark remains with us and will continue to teach Mathematics, oversee the eCalrossy Program and undertake administrative tasks relating to timetables and data. I am deeply grateful for his support.

Rev. Stephen Price leaves Calrossy to take on a Deputy Principal role in Orange. Mr Price has served as Boy’s Chaplain, School Chaplain and has been the inaugural Head of Calrossy 7–9. In each of these positions he has excelled, also supporting the school through significant change. Developing a new section of a school and nurturing its culture is not an easy thing, particularly with young adolescents and I am very grateful for the work of Stephen in growing a team of staff and promoting student leadership on the William Cowper Campus. Its development as an attractive place for the early Secondary students is testament to Stephen and his leadership. He is someone with high energy, who gets tasks finished and has overseen a wide range programs, events and activities to the benefit of students. Getting that combination of engagement of students and setting high expectations for them has been an important part of his focus. He has also been a strong advocate for the articulation of the Christian focus across the school, enabling students to work through how this might fit with contemporary life in the 21st Century. His enthusiasm and consistent presence are things we will miss.

We are sad to farewell Ms Natasha Rosky who has led our Boarding community with distinction during her tenure and wish her and her family every success in their move to WA. We also farewell teachers Ms Summa Key, Mrs Kelly Hitchcock, Ms Samantha Alston and Mrs Amanda Dumble from our nursing staff. Each has made a significant contribution to our school and so we thank them and wish them well in their adventures ahead.

Old Uniforms

I am delighted that our Senior Leaders have been working with St John’s Tamworth to collect the ‘old’ Calrossy uniforms. Already a number have been bagged up ready to pass on. The Years 10/11 Community Service program this week has supported this initiative. Noone have donated old stock to the collection as well.

The out-of-date uniforms will be placed in a container and transported to Africa, where they will be distributed to children who would otherwise not have uniforms or clothes for school. I quite like the idea of African children wearing our Calrossy gear to school.

Further information will be provided to parents but I ask that you bundle your old uniforms at the end of the year and we will collect them in early 2024.

End of Year Events

The end of 2023 and our Year of Hope has come around very quickly. The following events conclude our year together and all students are required to attend as part of their citizenship in finishing well, please check notices for details on Presentation Day events and Carols.

Boarder Celebration Lunch

Our special celebration to mark the end of the year in Boarding takes place in the Brisbane Street Dining Room for both boys and girls, commencing at 11.30 am. All Boarding families are invited to join us for lunch, some thankyous and other festivities.

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be calledWonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. Isaiah 9: 6-7

David Smith

Principal Calrossy Anglican School

Community Notices

Calrossy End of Year Events

Calrossy Carols Service

Tennis Clinics

Connecting With Bricks