From the Leadership Team
Psalm 107:43
‘Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord’
The new Senior Years Pastoral Framework, the VIEW, was shared with students at the beginning of Term 2 in our first Chapel service.
The VIEW is a natural expression and extension of our Mission – to develop Senior students’ God-given gifts and abilities for LIFE and community.
The VIEW is founded in our faith and is informed by what matters to us in our Lutheran education environment. We believe God has a plan for each one of us and our aim is to support all students to reach their potential.
The VIEW encompasses and brings together our established Vision for Learners attributes, our traditional values of the Endeavour Way and expands to have a focus on Inclusion and Wellbeing, which we recognise are all of great importance to every one of us and our community as a collective.
V in the VIEW, stands for our Vision for Learners and encompasses Flexible Thinking, Agency, Influence and Risk Taking.
As shared by Crystal Manning (Student Action Team Captain) during the Chapel Service “It is important that we understand that by taking a risk, we will become flexible thinkers, agents in our learning and influencers in our community. As we begin to learn more about the VIEW and its role in our Senior Years journey, I urge you all to embrace each value, so that we may continue to be knowledge seekers, in pursuit of curiosity and passion”.
The I in the VIEW stands for Inclusion, focusing on Empathy, Respect, Shared Responsibility and Perspective. Akot Garang and Mia Ngo (Cultural Leaders) shared the following when reflecting on Inclusion “A major part of striving to be inclusive, is respect, whether it be respecting personal opinions, political views, or ways of life. We are all fundamentally different and as a school community, we are a mix of different religions, ethnicities, and opinions. Being able to respect one another and having empathy is crucial to ensuring our school has a culture of inclusion, where everyone feels like they belong in this community”.
The E in the VIEW is for the Endeavour Way. The Senior Years iteration, which builds on our traditional values, emphasises Connection, Conflict Competence, Communication and Living in Grace. Mr Slattery shared “It is not just about getting along; it is about proactively creating relationships that encourage individual development and enhance community. As Senior Years teachers we recognise that these relationships extend far beyond the boundaries of the classroom. They encompass interactions with family, peers, staff, mentors, and the wider community. Each connection is an opportunity to embody our values of Love, Courage, Forgiveness, and Hope. Understanding a student's interests, commitments, strengths and challenges allows us to advocate for students and help you to achieve your goals and to overcome obstacles”.
The W in the VIEW is for WELLBEING, encompassing the outcomes of Resilience, Self-Awareness, Belonging and Gratitude. When reflecting on Wellbeing Marni (College Counsellor) shared “The VIEW will deliver social and emotional learning and wellbeing related content as part of the Senior Years Pastoral Framework through your amazing Care Group teachers and the Senior Years Team. It is the foundation for our approach to wellbeing and my hope is that it will improve wellbeing outcomes for every single Senior Years student”.
The VIEW captures and aligns what we already do in Village, Care Group and Year Levels but with a goal of intention and attention, expansion and elevation to enrich Endeavour College Senior Years students.
As with the spirit of Jesus, and his perfect love, relationships are always at the heart of everything we do, and we will continue to dedicate time to building connections and creating opportunities that deepen and exemplify our spirituality and our values.
Care Group will continue to be a significant time for social and emotional learning opportunities that extend students both personally and collectively.
Engaging and varied events, choices and experiences, open the way for students to develop as unique individuals, support their future aspirations, passions and pathways, and equip and prepare them as they transition out of the College to then become positive contributors in society, glorifying God through their actions.
The message from Pastor Chris brought us back to Jesus and his perfect example “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and people.”
There is an education where you learn lots of answers… but there is a further education where you grow in wisdom.
There is an education where you know what is in the textbook… but there is a further education where people admire you and you can influence them.
There is an education where you grow in knowledge… and there is an education where your capacity as a person keeps on growing.
There is an education that God, and us, want for you, and it is learning not just academically, but as an entire human being.
That is part of what we want for you in the VIEW. It is both kinds of education. And we pray that you will gain a great VIEW, a great perspective, of yourself and life as a result.
With a VIEW to the future, we hope our students will flourish holistically, feel safe, cared for, and connected whist contributing positively and leading our College with great spirit and pride.
Sharon Ward
Director of Senior Years