From the Principal 

This morning we held our first College assembly, with all staff and students gathered together in the Mary Dalton Hall, since February 2020! Our assembly focussed on acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of our students in the areas of Languages, Leadership, Sport and the Duke of Edinburgh Award. We also heard about the vision and many wonderful initiatives of each area of leadership within our College being the Student Representative Council, Community Action, Health and Wellbeing, Living Justice and Sustainability. 

In my address, I spoke about the choice we have when we witness unkind, unjust or discriminatory behaviour in our community and world. We can ignore it, we can join in, or we can take action to try to stop it.  Here is part of my address: 

“If you see someone doing the wrong thing, perhaps excluding or being mean to another person, spreading rumours, making derogatory or discriminatory comments, sharing photos of someone without their permission, and you do nothing about it or you laugh and join in, then you are being a bystander. If you do this, you are sending a message that the behaviour or injustice is acceptable and that you support or agree with it. 

Upstanders are those who recognize a wrong and take action to make it right. They are the ones who call out bullying, racism and discrimination, who tell the person leaving rubbish behind to put it in the bin, who report vandalism or theft, who attend rallies in support of climate change and justice for refugees etc. 

An upstander acts with courage, compassion and integrity. They live out our motto of Strength and Kindliness, and are role models to others to do the same. They help make our school, our community and our world a better, kinder, more tolerant and inclusive place.

Social media and digital messaging have become a significant part of our lives and unfortunately it is often used to bully, spread rumours, encourage discrimination etc. I imagine that all of us have seen technology used in this way and that many have been subject to hurtful messages at one time or another.  I know that this is a common cause of distress for young people today.  

If you witness this, think about how you would feel if you were the person being targeted. Put yourself in their shoes and think about what you would hope others would do to support you. 

You can choose to be an upstander by replying with a simple message such as ‘not cool’ or the thumbs down emoji, reaching out and checking in with the person or people targeted or you could tell a trusted adult. 

Similarly, if you witness other forms of unkind or unjust treatment, put yourself in the place of the victim and think about how you would like others to respond.   I’m confident you would want them to call out the behaviour and in doing so support you.

Being an upstander to injustice and hurtful behaviour, does take courage but in being courageous you are not only helping others, but also encouraging and empowering others to do the same. 

Speak up, take action but don’t put yourself at risk of harm. If you’re concerned about your safety, report the behaviour to an adult or if someone is at immediate risk call the police.   

Research shows that if hurtful, unjust and bullying behaviour is called out, it very often quickly stops.   So, choose to be an upstander rather than a bystander.   

Remember that if you don’t say or do anything, you’re supporting the behaviour and it’s more likely to continue.

By choosing to be an upstander and not a bystander you are helping to address a problem rather than contributing to it. You’re also helping to make our school, our community and our world a better, kinder, more tolerant and inclusive place. And so, I hope that you will choose to be an upstander rather than a bystander when you see something that isn’t right whether it be here at school, on public transport or out in the community.”

A Prayer for the Election 

God of this land and of every people,

who shape all things according to your own design and write your law in every human heart:

we thank you for this country we call home,

from the First Nations people to others born here and those you have gathered from 

across the earth.

We pray for citizens of our land in this troubled time, that we may be committed to justice,

to the dignity of each human life, and to solidarity with all Australians 

and with the world.

Guide all who seek election to serve the nation;

may the Holy Spirit inspire them to pursue a better politics that is wise and courageous and governs for the good of all.

May all of us see and hear you in the most vulnerable, that we may respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,that we may respond to you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

We Pray For

We ask for your prayers for members of our community and their families who have recently lost loved ones:

Michael Stack

Brother of Mary Stack (Past Principal) and Kate Whisson (Past Staff) and 

Brother-in-Law of Andrew Whisson (Past Staff)

Nicole Mangelsdorf

Principal