From the Principal

Dear Blue Mountains Grammar School Community,

As I mentioned to you recently, the School Board has now had the opportunity of gathering for a significant occasion in the life of our School—the School Board's strategic planning day. It was a day where we reflected on the past 105 years of our School's place in the Blue Mountains and envisioned an inspiring future for our School and the community we serve.

One clear message emerged throughout the day: any endeavour to grow and move forward must be firmly rooted in our core values and exhibited through our behaviours. We recognised that constructing a fancy marketing catchphrase devoid of authenticity and integrity would not serve our community or us in the long run.

What transpired from the strategic planning day is a renewed set of values that will guide our path ahead. In addition, we have carefully matched each value with a corresponding behaviour, setting clear expectations for everyone in our community. These values and behaviours are expressed in everyday language, intentionally simple and accessible, enabling us to self-reflect and evaluate our alignment with them.

As an Anglican School, we align with our mission and the biblical belief that we are created to grow, mature, change, and contribute. We embrace the understanding that our values and behaviours align with the scriptural principles guiding our journey of faith and education. By cultivating an environment grounded in these beliefs, we aim to foster the holistic development of our students, preparing them to make meaningful contributions to the world around them. Below I have included a table with the values, behaviours and a Bible verse that aligns with our intent. I hope this encourages you. 

I take this opportunity to introduce you to the six core values that we hold dear at Blue Mountains Grammar School:

1. Excellence: Striving for continuous improvement and pursuing personal and collective excellence.
2. Invention: Embracing creativity, innovation, and a willingness to explore new ideas and possibilities.
3. Influence: Recognising the power of our words and actions to positively impact others and the wider world.
4. Accountability: Taking ownership of our responsibilities, actions, and their consequences.
5. Community: Fostering a sense of belonging, support, and interconnectedness within our School and the broader community.
6. Courage: Demonstrating bravery in facing challenges, embracing change, and standing up for what is right.

For each value, we have identified a corresponding behaviour that serves as a practical guide for our actions:

1. Get Better: Continuously strive for personal and collective improvement, seeking growth and excellence in all endeavours.
2. Grow Something: Foster a culture of creativity and innovation, nurturing new ideas and actively exploring possibilities.
3. Grow Someone: Recognise the power of our influence and actively contribute to the growth and development of others.
4. Take It Personally: Embrace personal responsibility and accountability, understanding the impact of our actions on ourselves and others.
5. Invest: Cultivate a strong sense of community by actively engaging, supporting, and investing in the well-being of those around us.
6. Step Forward: Display courage and resilience in the face of challenges, taking the initiative and standing up for what is right.

Over the coming weeks, I will take the time to unpack each value and its associated behaviour in more detail. We will delve deeper into their meaning and practical application through newsletters and other communications. Furthermore, I will have the pleasure of explaining these values and behaviours to our students during assemblies, ensuring they understand the significance and how to incorporate them into their daily lives. Our children will look to us to see how we model them, so I encourage you to become familiar with them.

To reinforce the importance of these values and behaviours, we are working on designing posters that will be prominently displayed throughout the School. These visual reminders will serve as a constant reinforcement, keeping these principles at the forefront of our minds as we navigate our school days. Additionally, we want to create fridge magnets featuring these values, providing an opportunity for discussions at home and further integration of our values within the broader community. 

By capturing our values and behaviours in everyday language, we make them more accessible and actionable. Simplicity is essential, allowing us to quickly check ourselves against these standards. When our values and behaviours become complex, interpretation can lead to deviation and dilution of their true intent.

It is worth noting that while these values and behaviours draw inspiration from the work of Andy Stanley from Northpoint Community Church, we have infused them with a unique perspective tailored explicitly to Blue Mountains Grammar School. By blending these proven principles with our School's character, we can foster an environment where growth, integrity, and community thrive.

As we move forward, let us embrace these values and behaviours as the compass guiding our journey. By aligning with them, we ensure our growth is rooted in authenticity, integrity, and a shared commitment to nurturing a thriving educational community.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership as we embark on this exciting new chapter at Blue Mountains Grammar School. Together, we will build a future honouring our past and impacting future generations. And isn't that our role as adults in the lives of young people?

Mr Steven Coote 

Principal