A Message From The Rector

By Richard Hall | Posted: Thursday September 5, 2019

Yesterday I attended the Class Act Awards. Our two recipients; Colby Allen and Jack Divers are both deserving of this accolade.

It is important that we continue to recognise excellence, but I want to say that only being able to choose two is a genuinely hard decision. Our process is to give staff the opportunity to  nominate. For those selected we request evidence of their ability/achievements and then, for myself to make the final selection. In Colby and Jack we have two young men who represent our values of excellence, courage, honour, respect and perseverance.

I thought the Prime Minister's speech yesterday was excellent. As quoted in the ODT today she said (in relation to the world we live in);

"There is no reprieve from judgement.

So in response, we make ourselves smaller and smaller targets. That way we never have to run the risk of shame, or pain or humiliation.

But just as much as we need you all to have a desire and a motivation to succeed, we also need you to never fear failure - to never seek or expect to be perfect - to be (without compromise) you."

I could not agree more. Judgement is easy when you do not bear the responsibility for the decision. Judgement is easy when some of the story is protected. Judgement is easy when you are tapping keys. But our young people need to understand their value is not solely bound up in the judgement of others. A small target is still a target.

As our community I think you play a key role in modelling good judgement; we too are learning the impacts of this constant judgement. This weekend I would really value the time you might take to talk to your son regarding how you make good judgements, what sort of process or thoughts you need to go through, how you have made important choices and how you have, no doubt at times, held off making quick a judgement, especially about someone else.

I hope that our Prime Minister's message is supported by our community, because I think it is the right one for our school.

Have a great weekend.