Deputy Principal 

“It’s the little things”: That was the focus of my address to the students at the commencement assembly today and what will become my mantra for 2023, linked closely with the College theme of Respect.

I drew these words from a speech made by Admiral McRaven at the beginning of the school year in 2014 at the University of Texas. In his speech, which has become very famous, McRaven explains how making your bed every morning is the start to how you can change the world.

He says, “If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that the little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never be able to do the big things right.”

I didn’t speak so much to the students about making their beds (although perhaps you might have liked me to!), but instead I spoke about the importance of making good decisions and the importance of routine in relation to how they wear their uniform (and meet College expectations more generally), and how something little like making choices around uniform can contribute to the bigger picture.

I explained that uniform gives us a sense of belonging, the sense that we are all part of something together.

Our uniform creates an identity for the school in the community, and a positive identity is important for the school, but it is equally important for each and every one of our students. 

Interestingly, research shows that wearing a school uniform can lead to students performing better academically. Uniforms reduce distractions, sharpen focus on school work and make the classroom a more serious environment. 

We know too that uniforms are important for safety reasons, think about the science lab or the sporting field as examples.

A school uniform also helps students to prepare for the real world. Not only are there many professions out there which require students to wear a uniform but wearing a uniform at school means they have learnt to, and formed the habit of, dressing smartly.

Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard once said, “Part of a high-quality education is learning how to present yourself to the world, and that’s what a school uniform is all about.” 

I posed the question to the students: “I wonder what your uniform and the way you wear it says about you to the world?”

I have already communicated with parents about our uniform expectations and other College expectations in a letter last week, and I look forward to your support in these matters.

The little things, good decisions, good actions and routines are all important things in the life of a student, but so too are the support structures in place to ensure that your child is achieving to the best of their ability, academically, socially and emotionally. Our new House structure is integral to these support structures, including the very important role the Homeroom Mentor teachers plays (the person with whom you have already connected this week at the Homeroom Mentor Meetings) as well as the Heads of House and more widely the Extended Leadership Team (ELT). We are very excited to be able to introduce to you the members of the ELT in this edition of the newsletter – please check out the short bios on each one. I am sure you will pick up on the passion and enthusiasm alive and well within this team, as I have these last few weeks in planning for 2023 with them, and it bodes well for a fantastic year.

Kathryn Dendy

Deputy Principal Student Development and Wellbeing