Dear Parents and Guardians,
No one knew the name of this day
born quietly from the deepest night.
It hid its face in light,
demanded nothing for itself,
opened out to offer each of us
a field of brightness that travelled ahead,
providing in time, ground to hold our footsteps
and the light of thoughts to show the way.
The mind of the day draws no attention;
it dwells within the silence with elegance
to create a space for all our words
drawing us to listen inwards and outwards.
We seldom notice how each day is a holy place
where the eucharist of the ordinary happens,
transforming our broken fragments
into an eternal continuity that keeps us.
Somewhere in us a dignity presides
that is more gracious than the smallness
that fuels us with fear and force,
a dignity that trusts the form a day takes.
So at the end of this day we give thanks
for being betrothed to the unknown
and for the secret work
through which the mind of the day
and wisdom of the soul become one.
John O’Donohoe wrote these wonderful words about an ordinary day that is every day. He wanted to challenge us to see the immense offering of grace and beauty that is provided for us if we choose to look. It is not always possible to anchor words to these experiences of light and insight, but we can offer words of thanks each night for the possibilities of the day.
At Assembly this week, I spoke to our students about choices. Our students need to be conscious of the choices they make each day that contributes to the shape of discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary. Students were challenged to aspire to their best self in every facet of school life. As teachers, we rejoice in the triumphs of student learning even when it might appear that success is a distant place. The opportunity to praise a student provides as much joy for the teacher as it does the learner. I hope that our students can recognise the importance of being their best self to provide teachers the opportunities to sing their praises. Contrary to some urban myths, teachers do not seek to only identify student shortcomings.
Today’s assembly was a fine example of teachers sharing enthusiastically with the College Community students sussesses. I wish to acknowledge Mr Luke Critchley’s commendation of the students whom participated in Rostrum Voice of Youth and in particular, the success of Mackenzie Diprose. Ms Jesse Bolton spoke with pride for the Basketball Team who played with great passion and skill, remaining undefeated in the recent Gold Coast invitational tournament. What was particularly heart-warming was Ms Bolton sharing the experience of the boys singing the College song as they travelled home on the bus. These two teachers shared but a fraction of what our students can do when their choice is to give of their best. It is evident that the success for these students in two very different pursuits occurred due to a myriad of reasons. What was most evident to me was that passionate and inspiring teachers stood with these students to support them in actualising their potential.
As this term unfolds I ask all students to consider your choices and in particular the effort and application given to all aspects of College life.
