From the Headmaster

Dear boys, staff and parents

Welcome

Welcome to Term 3. I hope the previous three weeks have provided an opportunity for some family time.

I particularly offer a warm welcome to the 17 new families who commenced at the School this term. I have no doubt that each family will be warmly received by the Churchie community. I particularly welcome the five new families into our boarding community. Our new boarding families hail from Western Australia, Central Queensland, the Sunshine Coast and northern New South Wales. It was a pleasure to welcome these families at our Welcome Back BBQ on Monday, prior to the commencement of classes on Tuesday.

For those willing, as always, the mid-year break offered a suite of school-based activities for students in various learning and service experiences. Members of Stage Crew volunteered their time and skills to support the annual Synod of the Anglican Church of the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane. Many boys were involved in basketball, rugby and chess preseason training, trials and camps, and a group of students travelled to the UK for a residential study experience at Cambridge University.

Perhaps the most unique experience was the inaugural service tour to Timor-Leste. Very early in the morning of 14 June, an eager group of 10 Year 12 students embarked on Churchie’s first service trip to Timor-Leste, a very young nation located north-west of Darwin. In their own words, the boys and staff were deeply moved by the manner in which they were embraced by this gracious and welcoming community. There is no doubt that they learned a great deal as they lived, played and assisted in a local school. I thank the parents for supporting this experience and, especially, Director of Service Clayton Kelly, Casey Housemaster Ben Hugheston-Roberts and School Marshal Craig Howe who planned and accompanied the tour. Such service and cultural experiences can be highly formative and life-changing for our students.

Refocusing on goals

The commencement of Semester 2 provides a great opportunity to reset and focus on annual goals for 2024. I encourage all boys to study their Semester 1 reports and refocus on their goals for the year. Being proactive and taking ownership of one’s learning and personal growth is central to academic and cocurricular success, so I encourage the students to commence this process promptly.

With every good wish for a successful term.

Dr Alan Campbell
Headmaster