Student Leadership – Celebrating Success

Opportunities for student leadership, no matter how small they may seem, are an important strategic mechanism for fostering overall personal development. For growing great people. Openly engaging in a range of school-based leadership roles allows students to develop a skillset that will be beneficial now with their schooling and also later in life. Managing time, setting and achieving goals, working collaboratively with others, communicating clearly – these skills will also support students as they begin to enter the workforce with causal jobs outside of school time.

I am very pleased to report that 95 students across a range of year levels in our three sectors have now been brave enough to take the first step in beginning their leadership skill development through the passport model. This in itself is no small feat. I used the word brave, as even booking a meeting with an Assistant Principal to discuss leadership within the College takes courage. Australian culture, unfortunately, has a well-entrenched social phenomenon called tall poppy syndrome where some portions of society are reluctant to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and success of others, and instead tend to criticize, downplay, or even resent the success of others. While this phenomenon is clearly visible in the media and far more prevalent in wider society, we are certainly not completely immune to its effects here at the College. The fear of standing out may cause some to hesitate or be reluctant to showcase their abilities or ambitions to be leaders among their peer group, however, the courageous will rise above this fear and tackle it head on.  

What is pleasing to report is there are a good number of brave students who have set about completing the required tasks and are closing in on their graduation from Level One of the Leadership Passport Model. Two students, Eve Henry (4B) and Kaitlyn Harms (11A) have already made this transition and should be congratulated for their efforts. Well done Ladies.

Eve Henry	Kaitlyn Harms

One motivated and determined young lady, Lexie Forbes (6A), has also work tirelessly to graduate from Level Two of the model,. Lexie is our first student to commence Level Three of the Passport model and is to be congratulated for her persistence, determination, and the initiative she has shown in completing the required tasks.

Since beginning her leadership development journey earlier this year, Lexie has completed:

• 5 x Above and Beyond tasks
• 2 x Public Speaking tasks
• Participated in significant College events.

Our community is benefiting from her dedication. Lexie has been actively involved in many projects, events, and tasks this year, including:

• Assisting Year 12 students in serving at the Breaky Club on Monday mornings before school in Term 2 and Term 3.
• Having a significant role in the College Musical production.
• Helping to lead the organisation of the College Disco in Term 3.
• Being a Bus Buddy to a prep student helping him to and from the classroom
• Reading to a prep student twice a week for Term 2
• Participating in the Dalby Vocal Eisteddfod

Lexie has demonstrated that she is driven and has a strong work ethic. She is responsible, reliable and is constantly seeking opportunities for improvement. Best of all, it is inspiring others. Whenever we contribute to the community, be it here within the College or beyond the gates, we help inspire others to do the same. Above and Beyond Tasks encourage students to demonstrate their initiative to not walk past and opportunity to make a positive difference, but instead to do something positive about it. This causes a ripple effect, encouraging more people to get involved and in the end the difference made grows.

Well done to every student who has begun their leadership development journey through the Passport model. For those who have been thinking about it. It is not too late to join in. Here is the process to get onboard:

• Student books a meeting with their Assistant Principal through the office staff.
• Meet with the Assistant Principal and get their passport.

It would be wonderful if we could have 100 students begin their journey this year!

Sporting Representation

It was wonderful to see students from the Middle Years representing in various sports over the holiday period. From state representation to other representative teams, from volleyball to touch football, well done to everyone. Being selected in representative sporting teams is a testament to your dedication and work ethic from training to the sporting area. We may be a little school in terms of numbers but we certainly compete very well against those form much bigger places.  

Year 5 Camp
Yesterday a very excited cohort of Year 5 students departed for their annual camp to Brisbane. Here are some snaps from Day 1 – visiting St Stephen’s Cathedral. Day 2 sees the students head out on the bay to visit the former penal colony at Saint Helena Island.

Mr Craig Cullen

Assistant Principal – Middle Years