High School 15/9: Oh the places you’ll go!

A very wise man, Dr. Seuss once said “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go…”. I always love this time of year; we change seasons from Winter to Spring, the days get longer, the sun is brighter and the Year 12’s prepare for their graduation and final HSC exams.  Graduation marks the end of an era for our Year 12 students and we wish them all the very best as they choose the path they will take after school. The future is unwritten and adventure awaits – oh, the places you’ll go, Year 12’s! !  It’s good to remember that this time can be marked with all kinds of emotions, ranging from excitement to anxiousness with all the changes ahead. Lets continue to support and uphold our Year 12 students, to the end of their schooling here – and beyond!

Thinking about graduation in the coming week, here are some words of wisdom that I have learnt along the way that are important for all students to remember, across every year group:

1. Enjoy the journey. School can be hard; from learning to friends, there will be highs and lows, but in the big scheme of things, school is a short time; it’s a season. It is an opportunity to learn skills that will set you up for life.
2. Set goals. Setting goals really helps us to focus and motivate us towards a result. If we don’t set goals, we lose sight of where we are heading!
3. Turn mistakes into learning opportunities. Everyone makes mistakes, learn from them. Mistakes provide us with opportunities to learn – they are teachable moments. In life, when you make a mistake, step back, reassess, and right the mistake. Learn from it.
4. Get involved with school life. When you finish school, it’s not so much the lessons that you remember, it’s the teachers (how they made you feel), it’s the experiences (Duke of Edinburgh; sporting opportunities; the musical… How amazing was ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by the way? INCREDIBLE!!!) and the time you spent with others.
5. Fill your world with gratitude. People who find gratitude in the smallest things are much happier with life – their wellbeing is greatly enhanced. Gratitude changes your perspective of the world. Look for things to be thankful for each day!

One of the things that I was extremely thankful for this week was the attendance of Year 6 at the leadership assembly and celebrating the new leadership body for 2024. The opportunities for students to serve and lead for the benefit of others in the Student Leadership Council or as year leaders is an amazing privilege. It is also a privilege for the students to serve their school community. So, as we finish Term 3 and wish our Year 12 a hearty goodbye, I say – Congratulations! “Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!”.

But as teachers, our prayer for each student is that they would come to know the Lord Jesus and the grace He has given to us. Philippians 1:9-11 says, “⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” We will continue to pray for our community here and that Christ will work in every life. Have a safe and restful holiday and we look forward to a fantastic Term 4.