Headmaster's
Message
No Division
In 2019, on my first day with the Blue Mountains Grammar School staff team, we began our January Staff Conference at Leuralla because it is a beautiful place – perhaps the most beautiful place in the Mountains. I chose it because it reminds me of many other stunning locations throughout the Mountains, places to which I feel connected, places where I feel at home, places linked to my faith, my hopes and my loves. These ideals fly high on the flags of the Ad Altiora ship and represent three very important facets of our vision of a school characterised by Faith, Hope and Love. So, it was that connection became the staff theme for 2019.
In 2020, we began at the Hydro Majestic; a place of vision, where in the 1800s, vision drove Mark Foy’s purpose. In this same location, purpose recently motivated an inspired and inspirational family to reinvigorate that vision. Being a purpose-driven school is another very important facet of our vision. Whilst at the Hydro Majestic, I drew the parallel between the oldest premium hotel in the Mountains and the premium School in the mountains. I exhorted the staff with my conviction that if we aren’t an excellent school then we lack integrity. The principle of integrity and an insistence that we continue to pursue excellence are a further two facets of our vision and became the staff theme for 2020. You may notice it works quite well with our Vision 2020 and Beyond mantra of RAISE the Bar.
In 2021, the January Staff Conference began on the lawns of the Fairmont Resort and Spa in Leura, equally intentionally. I took the opportunity, yet again, to lay down a theme for the year; a theme of unity. This theme reflected on the Fairmont’s membership of both the 76 strong worldwide family of Fairmont Hotels and the 5000+ family of Accor Hotels. As we would all understand, large complex organisations require unity of purpose and action if they are to deliver the best value to their clients. It is the same for us. We are not a large school and we are not linked formally to any other school, but we, like every other school, are complex and we must stand united in 2021, in purpose and action, if we are to best serve our students’ needs.
My favourite metaphor for unity is expressed in the Bible, in 1 Corinthians 12, “a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body.” The Apostle Paul, uses this image in reference to a church, however it is equally well applied to our School. So, as the Apostle encouraged the Church, I encouraged my staff and now each reader; ‘you are the body of BMGS … and each one of you is a part of it … and together we make one School.’ Most importantly the Apostle exhorts, “there should be no division in the body.”
Mr Ian Maynard
Headmaster
P.S. Here is a video of my reflections on the first Ad Altiora Workshop held on Monday, 16th February.
Ad Altiora Parents’ Workshop #1B
Due to demand, I will be presenting again the first Ad Altiora Workshop - Parents as Academic Coaches on Tuesday, 2nd March, at 6:45pm in Junior School's Coote Hall.
At the moment we continue to be limited to indoor gatherings of thirty, so please RSVP ASAP via feedback@bmgs.nsw.edu.au. I hope to see you there.
Mr. Ian Maynard
Headmaster
