Collaborating with Compassion

Over the last month, our nation has been transfixed as the World Cup has played out on our shores. We have marvelled at the athletes’ skill levels and the backstory of individuals and nations. What is always evident in any high-level tournament is the level of collaboration and teamwork necessary for any given team to succeed at a high level.

At last week’s assembly, we considered how we collaborate with compassion in the outdoors and how our words and actions build positivity within any group. When faced with new challenges, language and attitude inform others of our priorities for them and ourselves. Often when playing and interacting outside, young people can become fixated on their skills and individual talents rather than the skills involved in collaboration, thinking that 90% of success is talent, 10% collaboration and hard work, or what they can do, rather than who they are.

As we move through life, we know the opposite to be true. Commitment to the cause through positive actions carries far more kudos for those around us. As our young people engage in the outdoors, in structured and unstructured experiences, we are prioritising the commitment to collaboration through positive thoughts, words and actions. By developing our individual competencies, we positively embrace the teaching embodied in our “Learning Together” pillar.

Service in Action

Over the past few weeks, the P-5 community has supported several initiatives from Middle College Students involved in the Pacific Plus Extension Program. Junior College Students were asked to bring clothing and items for young children, and the Foundation College supported this program by donating toys. These items were then donated to the St Mark’s Congregation and distributed to families and individuals who will benefit significantly from this generosity. This is an excellent example of service in action and a tangible way for our young people to see how a small action can make a big difference.  As a College, we thank you for the contributions that you have made to this project, and we look forward to being involved in more projects in the future.

Our Year 5 “Kids in Action” team is busy preparing their presentations for the upcoming conference on the 7th of September. This year’s theme of biospHEROES: Connecting, Caring and Co-creating the Future focuses on the connection between biospheres. It promotes an effective form of creating a cultural change in how the community views and uses the natural environment.

The KIA team has also been responsible for forming the Environmental Eagles group, promoting the removal of rubbish and waste around the College. This group has championed the individual responsibility of all in how we dispose of our waste. It is a common sight for our Foundation and Junior Students to freely give their time to eradicate waste from the College grounds.

Thank You

Finally, an enormous thank you for supporting OCEANfest ‘One World’ 2023 and Book Week. OCEANfest provided a lovely opportunity to enjoy time as a College community but it was a mighty effort from our parent connectors and volunteers to ensure its success. The time and effort invested in the evening were reflected in the joy experienced by all. Thank you.

Our annual Book Week was another successful day and special thanks must go to our hardworking library team for their planning of author visits last week, book week parade on Monday and exciting activities in the library space each day this week. Thank you to the wider community for the time and effort you have invested in this day and the costumes were amazing!

Take care and God Bless.

Mr Damian Davis, Head of Staff and Students P-5