Living with Strength and Kindliness

Student Leaders for 2023

At the very heart of each Catholic school is a desire for the full flourishing of each student, 

across religious, physical, cognitive, emotional and social domains.

Here we support students to grow in virtue and to embrace a view of themselves and the world that leads to peace, justice, and the prospering of the whole of creation. 

It is a journey that is enlightened by faith, animated by love and leading to hope.

(CEM 2016a, p. 5, Student Voice)

St Joseph's is currently a hub of activity as we prepare to become a multi campus school and there are many things we have to get ready! 

For over a year now we have been working through a consultation process with our students and staff to develop a Student Leadership Structure that makes the most of the opportunities available to us as a multi campus school. 

The result is this new structure (please see below). There are elements of the current structure and the introduction of two new positions on each of the campuses, allowing for a couple of formal positions on each site.

This week our Year 10 and 11 students will engage with a program offered by external providers 'Burn Bright' in a senior students leaders program. Check out our socials to see how the day panned out. The day was designed to provide a range of overall leadership skills and attributes as these young people step up into our senior school in 2023.

In order to ensure that students do not miss the chance to be elected to a leadership role in 2023 we have set up the election process in coming months in the following manner. The School Captains will come from Year 12 only. But, any student in Year 10 or 11 can put their hand up to become a Student House Leader for the 2023 tenure. In latter years this will resort to the structure outlined above.

Our election process for Senior Student Leaders will begin next Friday 9 September when Ms Cairns and I address the group. The Year 9 Leaders will be elected later in the year.

To coincide with these changes, our program overview and the student role descriptions have also undergone a facelift. Watch this space next year. The new name for the leadership skills development will be called Student Agency. There may be additional changes to our documentation as we increase student agency and student voice going forward.

This is what I have written as the introduction to the Student Leadership Program overview going forward:

Introduction

Jesus Walks on the Water   (Matt  14: 22-33)

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

This Gospel reading is set on a lake in a distant land. In the unfolding drama the characters of the story are called into a deeper relationship with Jesus.  As the full force of nature is described in this story the full force of Jesus’ identity and power is revealed to those who chose to follow him.

Throughout this story, which reveals God’s power and human longing there is a struggle for Peter between courage and fear. Jesus challenges him to trust and move forward. To do so, he is required to leave solid ground and secure foundations.  Jesus calls Peter to embark on a journey into unknown territory and unchartered waters.  Central to this call is Jesus’ request for Peter to let go of his fear and doubt which holds him back. Peter is finally enabled by Jesus who holds him as he conquers an enormous and unimaginable challenge. 

Seeing this, the crowd bows down before Jesus; having experienced a sacred moment of God’s loving presence.  The crowd has been somehow transformed by what they have experienced.

Like Peter, we too are all called to discipleship and to be agents of change in our world. The story we have heard today ignites in us this call once again. As Leaders in our College we are called to work toward a common journey in our College Community. 

We look forward to the process of seeking out leaders from our talented pool of Year 10 and 11 students in these coming weeks.

Kirrilee Westblade

Catholic Identity Leader