Principal's Report
Dear families,
As we reach the end of this semester, we stand at a wonderful vantage point. We can look back at everything we have achieved, and look forward to the exciting journey ahead. As we reflect on Term 2, we are filled with gratitude and satisfaction for the many activities, events, and classes that have enriched our school community. We’ve enjoyed exciting camps, engaging assemblies, a formal, spirited sports competitions, and the dedication shown in production rehearsals. Each of these experiences has contributed to a sense of belonging and purpose, fostering a supportive and inspiring environment for everyone.
This week, many of our students attended the Career Expo. Here they encountered countless pathways, diverse industries, and future possibilities. It is a powerful reminder that your education here is building a bridge to your future careers.
Whether our students aspire to be a tradie, a professional, a scientist, a teacher, a healthcare worker, or an artist, or even an influencer, the message is that the future is full of potential.
However, the path to these bright futures is rarely a straight line. On Monday evening I attended the Careers Expo launch at the Golf Club where heads of local industries discussed what they need form young people joining their businesses – the message was clear – tell the teenagers that they need to be prepared to WORK HARD. Do not look for the easy path.
At the assembly on Thursday I shared a short fable about a caterpillar and a well-meaning gardener:
The Tale
One day, a gardener found a caterpillar's cocoon and decided to watch it. After a few weeks, a tiny hole appeared, and the butterfly inside began struggling fiercely to squeeze out.
Believing he was being compassionate, the man took a pair of scissors and carefully cut the cocoon open to make the hole bigger. The butterfly easily slipped out, but it had a swollen body and small, shrivelled wings.
The man waited for the wings to grow and expected the butterfly to take to the air. However, it never flew and spent the rest of its short life crawling on the ground with weak wings until it was gobbled up by a bird.
The Moral
In his effort to save the butterfly from its struggle, the man unknowingly crippled it. The fierce struggle to escape the cocoon is nature's way of forcing fluid from the butterfly's body into its wings.
Without this struggle, the wings cannot develop the strength required to fly. The fable serves as a metaphor to show that hardships, challenges, and tribulations are essential. They build the perseverance and inner strength we need to "fly" in life.
Hard work and resilience are not obstacles to your success—they are the very things that build your strength. We as parents and teachers do not serve our children well by removing all obstacles or hurdles in their way.
Other matters
I mentioned the Assembly this week during Homeroom time and at this time, it became apparent the number of students who are arriving late, well after 8:50am. We will make a focus on punctuality next term (another skill valued by employers) and I ask for families to support us in ensuring your son or daughter makes it to school on time.
The team rehearsing for the production, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, are now well drilled and I am very much looking forward to the show in Week 2 of Term 3. If you have not bought a ticket yet, through the Horsham Town Hall website or Box Office.
Semester One reports were issued on Thursday 25 June and I encourage families to discuss these with your son or daughter and explore what they are passionate about. On the July 20 we are hosting an information evening for parents and family members of students in VCE next year. This is where future pathways can be solidified.
Finally, I would like to wish all families a safe and rejuvenating term break and I look forward to seeing everyone at the start of Term 3 (13 July).
God bless,
Gerard Raven