From the Principal

Our Year 6 students, and the staff who accompanied them, returned from their trip to Canberra full of stories of fun and adventure last Friday night. During the week of their camp, I received daily reports of the activities they were involved in, but of particular interest to me were the compliments the students received from members of the public about the way they conducted themselves more generally. Helpful, knowledgeable, and polite was the theme of the public commentary.

‘Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter…’ wrote Keats in his poem Ode to a Grecian Urn, which caused me to reflect, when have I witnessed the ‘unheard melodies’ of our College this Term? Today’s Pre-Primary Assembly, the College Musical, Autumn Soiree, various sporting competitions and the recent Public Speaking grand final all came to mind immediately. The students involved all performed superbly, but the ‘unheard melodies’ were the real triumph; be it students overcoming their fear of performance; the evident support they received from their peers and families; or the expressions of joy after each performance.  Could it be the knowing smiles of encouragement given from older choristers to younger choristers when the combined Primary and Secondary school choir performs during every Friday morning Mass? Or perhaps it is the generosity of the students who stay back after sport to help pack up the equipment before heading home? There are many examples among our students. 

I am also conscious of the ‘unheard melodies’ amongst our staff; the Year 6 teachers who recently returned from Canberra, our teachers who volunteered to accompany the Year 10 Outdoor Education trip and our Year 11 teachers who recently hosted the Year 11 Dinner Dance are all the most recent examples of such melodies. The staff who have put so much effort into planning this weekend’s Music Camp, the staff planning various awareness-raising activities for National Refugee Week and the staff finalising arrangements for the Pilgrimage program to Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, also come to mind. 

There is particular excitement and anticipation amongst the Year 11 students who are preparing for their Pilgrimage to Arnhem Land. For those unaware, during the Pilgrimage program, participating students are afforded the opportunity for growth and transformation through learning, service and prayer. Students participating in the Pilgrimage will work alongside those fighting injustices, experience a totally different way of life, discern transformative moments and reflect on their experiences. What a fabulous opportunity for deep learning and growth; a program that would not proceed of course without the generosity of our staff.

I extend my thanks to Mrs Murphy, our Deputy Principal Faith and Mission, and to all staff attending for so generously planning, organising and leading such an enriching experience for our students. We look forward to our participating students’ Commissioning Mass next Wednesday.

There are many examples of ‘unheard melodies’ within our College community of course, but perhaps the challenge at times is to listen carefully enough so they can be truly heard. What ‘unheard melodies’ have you witnessed recently?

A Prayer for Humility

(Daniel A. Lord, SJ)

Let me have too deep a sense of humour to be proud.

Let me know my absurdity before I act absurdly.

Let me realise that when I am humble I am most human,

most truthful, 

and most worthy of your serious consideration.

Daniel Mahon

Principal