Senior Executive

Principal's Message

The last week has seen our school acknowledge a number of students who have achieved a great deal over not only this year, but in the case of our year 12 students, over the last six years.

I would like to congratulate our year 12 students for the way they conducted themselves at their formal evening. It was great to see these young men and women enjoy themselves and to let their hair down after their secondary schooling journey. As a staff we were extremely proud to have been able to celebrate this special evening with them.

Also last week our CLONTARF students were also acknowledged for the efforts that they have made over the year. It was very pleasing to see the number of students who have achieved not only improved attendance and  academic achievements, but who have also shown a commitment to improve other aspects of their schooling as well. It was also great to see so many families at the evening supporting their youngsters.

For the next two weeks we will be hosting year 6 students from Mt Warrigal and Warilla North PS who will be in attendance each day as part of their transition into high school. This will be a great opportunity for them to find out what high school is like and to hopefully allow them to settle in ready for their official start next year. Next year we will be hosting students from all of our feeder primary schools for two weeks.

This will be my last newsletter for the year as I am heading bush on Long Service Leave for the final 3 weeks of term. Can I please wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season and thank everyone for your support of our school over the last 12 months. It has been greatly appreciated. I look forward to seeing everyone at the start of what promises to be an exciting 2020.

Regards

Tony Hicks

Principal

Deputies' Desk 

For this Deputy Report I would like to write about the wonderful experience myself and the boys in our Clontarf Academy had at a camp run by the Australian Defence Force at Holsworthy last week. The event was called ‘A day in the Life’, and was based around a typical day in the life of an Australian soldier in the Army.

To bring the story to life and to really show the support we have received from the Army, I would like to start the story from its true beginnings, 3 months ago, when Glen, our Clontarf Director, came to me and asked if I would like to cook a meal for the boys, a meal which had importance to myself. This meal was to have some significance to me and I needed to be able to explain this to the boys while it was being prepared and whilst we ate together. I thought to myself that I would cook an Army ration pack (MRE – Meal Ready to Eat) and explain to the boys how my time as an Army Officer has helped me in life and how the skills I was taught such as leadership, organisation, self-discipline etc, has helped me today.

So I reached out to my old Battalion, the 4th/3rd Battalion Royal NSW Regiment and wrote a letter requesting assistance, simply a ration pack to be used. 4 days later I received a call from the Regimental Sargent Major (RSM) Warrant Officer First Cass (WO1), Michael Keefe and unfortunately, I was told no, it can in no way be done, they are just not available…………….but, he would like to work with me to get something else going. From this point on I sat back in my chair as he threw ideas at me for camps with uniforms, navigation lessons, leadership lessons, obstacle courses, field craft, and night operations. To be honest I was ready to re-enlist because it sounded so great. And again, in true RSM form, I was told to leave it with him and he would get back to me with a meeting date and something on paper, all I had to do was gauge some interest from the Clontarf Academies in our area.

And so the emails flew; Glen was off getting the information to the Academies from the South Coast, Riverina and up to Endeavour Sports High School, we had feedback, we had a team of boys from all walks of life. We had a date booked in with the Army and a solid plan to follow, developed by the RSM and the organising team from 4th/3rd Battalion Royal NSW Regiment). I would like to take this time to thank the tireless work of RSM WO1 Keefe and his team for their work and the opportunities that they have given our boys through this experience.

And so the Camp commenced at 0900hrs on Tuesday 19th November at Delta Company 4th/3rd Battalion, located past the security check points of Holsworthy Army Barracks. We arrived were given a safety briefing and showed to our lines (accommodation).

We were issued uniforms and essential equipment, which included myself and the Clontarf staff.

and taken to the D Company Briefing room for a Welcome to Country, given by Mr Charles Mundine who was also an ex-Army Solider. We were then given a talk by the Commander of 5 Brigade, Brigadier General Michael Bond who really set the tone for the camp by explaining to the boys that this was not a recruitment drive, but an opportunity for the Army to get into the community to support young people like them to develop within themselves some essential skills to help them be successful.

The RSM spoke about the Core Values of Army, and Corporal (Cpl) Hudson was called upon to recite them; Courage, Initiative, Respect and Team Work, all of which are relevant in all of our lives, as well as introducing the Army staff who would be running the event

The RSM also gave an address and off we went into a ‘bullring’ of activities, which included filed Craft and how soldiers live by what they can carry on their backs, Navigation, and Weapons handling. I will point out that all weapons were cleared safe and the idea was to show the team, how heavy they are when they are carried around.

All meals were supplied at the OR Mess (Other Ranks), which is a place for soldiers of the ranks Corporal and below to have a meal, and it is here I would like to thank the Catering staff and Managers of the Holsworthy OR Mess for supporting the event and giving the boys the chance to sit with the soldiers of Holsworthy.

All of our meals were delicious and there was lots of it! I can tell you, none of the boys went hungry on this camp.

After dinner we commenced night operations, where we had the opportunity to use the latest in night vision goggles and heat detection.

2200hrs and it was lights out and our student leaders were given instructions for the events for day 2. Which they passed on to their teams. 

0515 (5.15am) and although I knew that ‘Reveille’ (wake up) was at 0600hrs, I could hear the boys chatting away with excitement for what this new day would bring. There was no point staying in the sleeping bag and so the Clontarf boys had packed up, cleaned up and were ready to move an hour before the Army staff had ordered. The day began with PT (Physical Training) of a beep test, and the push up and sit up test followed by a light breakfast, which was because the main attraction, the obstacle course over the pool was up next!

Wow, this pool was deep, we were told that none of us were allowed to attempt to go to the bottom of the 6m pool, the only people who were allowed to do that were the Special Forces teams when they do their training. We were given a safety brief and had to complete a swim test, fully clothed and with our shoes on.

Then up we went, each boy gaining some sort of success, not always completing the course but by pushing past their limits and not giving up. We were also all proud of the team and by the boys who either had had their turn or were waiting for their turn on the pool deck, shouting out encouragement, really showing the core values of the Army. This was great fun but really tiring!

The final activity was a presentation given by Cpl Asslop from Defence Force Recruiting, and I would also like to take this time to thank Cpl Asslop for her time with the boys. Cpl Asslop worked with them over the 2 days, including joining in the PT session with them. The RSM gave his final address and it was here that you could see his true passion about ‘giving people a go’. His words were honest and deep and we thank him for being true in the way he spoke to the boys, it was very special.

Finally our debrief where, as a small token of appreciation, we gave a gift of the Project Based Learning coffee cups designed at Lake Illawarra High School. Then it was time to return the gear, load the bus, and head out through the security check point with plans for a return with a new bunch of boys next year. What an experience. 

To finish, I would like to congratulate the boys for their professionalism and courage. They gave everything a go and as such, they have no regrets! I would also like to thank again the Regimental Sargent Major, Warrant officer First Class, Michael Keefe for his support and the opportunity he has given our boys. It makes me think about the Clontarf motto ‘From little things, big things grow’ and how this applies to the camp ‘A day in the life’. To think, I asked for a ration pack but we were given the experience of a lifetime. Thank you, thank you to your team from 4th/3rd Battalion Royal NSW Regiment and Defence Force Recruiting namely Cpl Asslop. We had an unbelievable time and the lessons which were learnt will not be soon forgotten.

Mr T. Wilson

Deputy Principal<