From the Deputy Headmaster

The past few weeks have certainly been busy and productive, with students settling into the new year, planning ahead and establishing routines. Also, as is our tradition in these early weeks, we have commissioned our new leaders across the School in a variety of ceremonial occasions.

This morning, in Morris Hall, our new Senior Chaplain, The Reverend Sharon Mitchell was commissioned. At the ceremony, we were encouraged to contemplate the wonders of the universe, with the power of education to stretch our imagination and understanding, while guided by the immutable values of Christian teaching. We welcome Reverend Sharon into our community and look forward to her steadfast support, inspiration and leadership.

Last week, our annual Founder’s Day service at St John’s Cathedral also set a wonderful tone for 2024. An important part of this service was to commission our Year 12 student leaders for the year ahead. We were reminded that leadership is not an exercise in vanity or pride, but an act of service and devotion. ‘Do nothing in selfishness or conceit,’ we heard from Philippians, ‘but in humility count others better than yourselves.’ In our 113th year, it has been 104 years since the introduction of the very first student leadership group at Churchie, and we are still deeply committed to the leadership opportunities offered to our student executive, prefects, house captains and cocurricular captains. Notions of leadership and responsibility are pervasive across all areas of the School, many expressed without any badge or formal recognition, but each with the potential for significant and positive impact.

Both Founder’s Day and Reverend Sharon’s commissioning featured stunning performances from our Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Strings 1 and Senior Choir. Thank you and congratulations to the music staff and students, especially the soloists, who performed so magnificently.

As we all set our bearings on the year ahead, particularly with regard to the curriculum, I encourage all students to engage with every subject with a strong sense of personal direction, genuine tenacity and an open mind. Don’t just walk in and out of classrooms. Rather, make every effort to think about how topics and ideas relate to our own quality of life, our place in the universe, our own ethical compass, or the traditions and livelihoods of other people and communities. We look forward to our students becoming intellectually, emotionally and motivationally embroiled in all aspects of their learning.

May the first few weeks of 2024 continue to inspire and challenge us in profound ways, building healthy momentum around our four key values of integrity, courage, respect and faithfulness.

Richard Wheeldon
Deputy Headmaster