It is exciting as we return to school and move into the last term of 2020. We hope that everyone had an opportunity to rest a little and enjoy each other’s company.

Mrs Pearce has been seconded to the Catholic Education Office to work on a special project for the first 8 weeks of Term 4. In her absence Mr Eirth will undertake the role of Assistant Principal, Mr Leishman will undertake the role of Pastoral Care Coordinator and Mr Holden will undertake the role of Year 10 Coordinator. These are all outstanding leaders and I look forward to working with them in these roles.

We have been welcomed back to Term 4 with some lightening of COVID restrictions and whilst it has been wonderful to see some students able to attend excursions, I do have to acknowledge the ingenuity of staff in providing alternative opportunities in the previous months.

We all send our best wishes to our Year 12 students who began their HSC on Tuesday. Many of them have taken up the opportunity to seek help from teachers over the first week or attended school to undertake their study.

We began our final term with the commissioning of the new school leaders, the School Representative Council, SRC, for 2020 - 2021 Leadership year. For these, and all our young people who undertake leadership, it brings with it an opportunity to develop our skills in a unique way.

Leadership is an opportunity that challenges us to grow. And the odd thing about leadership growth is that it is not like any other personal challenge. Most challenges that we set ourselves can be measured by our own growth. 

For example, we may challenge ourselves to improve our fitness and engage in exercise three afternoons per week. And we are so proud when we fulfill that challenge and we feel so much better for it.

Alternatively, as students we may challenge ourselves to engage with one hour of homework every night. And when we achieve this goal, we are rewarded with better learning outcomes and confidence in our learning.

These are personal goals and personal rewards. Leadership is different.

Whilst the challenge is a one you set for yourself, the reward is not yours alone. The goals they set as a leader at St John’s align with our school vision. They are leaders of a school that has high expectations and works for excellence in peaceful and just relationships and growth in learning for every member of that community.

The goals they set must align with our values, especially those of their house that they lead:

Their goals must also align with our learning dispositions: A student that:

• Inquires
• Is Imaginative
• Takes Ownership
• Enjoys a Challenge
• Connects With others
• Is Reflective on their learning

These are the values and dispositions that they work to embed not just in their own lives but in all the members of our school community.

And that is where leadership is different. Achieving their goals as a leader is not measured by their own success, but by the success of everyone. As good leaders we build the skills of others. 

We reflect on the school vision and we work with others to make the vision a reality. And when we are successful, we see others achieve and the whole community of St John’s being a better place.

This is what good leadership is about.

So, congratulations to our newly elected leaders of the St John’s community. We look forward to how each of our new leaders will work to make St John’s a better community and we will celebrate their leadership by creating a school in which all members are valued.

 CONGRATULATIONS TAJA!

We received some fantastic news from NESA last week with the Final Body of Work  for Year 12 Visual Arts student, Taja Smith being selected as one of the most outstanding pieces in New South Wales. Taja's artwork 'Black Summer' has been nominated for the prestigious Art Express Exhibition. This is an outstanding achievement! Well done Taja!

Mrs Sandra Hogan

Principal