PRINCIPAL’S ADDRESS

We celebrate God in all things.

This is our College motto. The motto is a snippet from the letters between St Mary MacKillop and her spiritual director and friend, Fr Julian Tenison-Woods. In expressing this, there was an understanding of an important factor – the ‘why’ of their missionary work and their decision to establish the Sisters of St Joseph.

Their ‘why’ was God. They wrote of a very present and paternal God, and they clearly considered Him near, inspiring them and questioning them. Their commitment to living their ‘why’ seeps through their every action.

‘Why’ really matters.

When our students, at any level and in any subject, start to delve beyond surface learning they will inevitably be asking ‘why’ a lot.

It helps us all to better understand purpose, motive, process, bias and meaning. All our students want to know why they are learning something, where it fits into the jigsaw of their progress, and, as they get older, how much it will help their next step.

Today we can find several Ted talks, publications and on-line videos focussed on explaining the ‘power of why’.

Many of you will have seen these through your own research or perhaps through books you’ve been recommended or training you have attended. It is becoming very popular to talk about mission.

I think that what is being marketed as a 21st century idea is actually a very old philosophy; and it is rooted in a very Catholic understanding of community, humanity, humility, and mission.

As a Catholic school that is seeking to live a Josephite mission, we are aiming to bring our young people to fullness of life. Academic excellence, sporting prowess and cultural activities are just a small part of that fullness.

Of course, they really matter, and when as Principal I talk to parents and students about the importance of all students being guaranteed dignity, it is that aspiration towards merit that I am referring to.

Not everyone can get the trophy though –not only at the Awards Night but in life. That is why one of our most important messages is that our ‘why’ is NOT the reward, but the journey to achieving it, the community that enables it, the humility after receiving it, and of course, as with all gifts, what we choose to do with it.

These are the hallmarks of a Catholic education as opposed to what could be perceived as a base competition. Our aspiration towards excellence is about our dignity but also about our service of others.

Our ‘why’ as a Catholic school is rich and diverse. We do our best work as a College when we speak explicitly of mission, and consciously seek for that mission to be known and lived. Our ‘why’ speaks of an authentic welcome, of fulfilling the potential of each individual and responding to the needs of others.

I am reminded of Pope Francis, who has written consistently of the importance of teaching and teachers since 2013. His words echo our mission in spirit and method: He said,

"Education is not about knowing things or taking lessons but about being able to use three lingos: those of the head, the heart, and the hands... learning so that you can think about what you feel and do, can feelwhat you think and do, and can do what you feel and think. Unity within a person."

It is my vision that we enable this unity. This is our ‘why’. We do this with an explicit focus on our Josephite tradition, mindful that we must teach and lead with Passion to enable Possibilities, particularly for those who need us.

We are Practical, not afraid to do the work and take responsibility. We Persevere in Partnership, in meaningful solidarity. And we model lives of Prayer – bringing our young people to tenderness, strength and constancy of faith at this time that is awash with information that is too often transmitted without wisdom or critical sense.

We must keep reflecting on the Head, Heart and Hands of our learning, and keep asking about our ‘why’.

Our mission is the fuel to keep us moving.