Dear Members of the St Gregory’s Family,
Welcome back to Term 4 – I trust that this edition of the St Gregory’s College newsletter finds you well and that you are set for a big Term 4!
This week I had the pleasure, alongside Mr Coughlan to spend two days with our new Student Leadership Team for 2023/2024 in our Marist heartland in Mittagong. Over the two days we spent the time together looking at what leadership is, pulling apart the new leadership roles and structure, defining the responsibilities of our student leadership group, and exploring the legacy of these roles. We had some much needed time together to plan our group and individual goals as a new collective leadership group.
Leadership as a verb, it is an action word. Leadership is not merely a noun, to me when someone is appointed as a leader, it does not give them the right to feel that they are superior to others nor are they to expect that those who they lead are to serve them. Once one of our gentlemen has ‘the badge’ the real job lies ahead of them and the quality of their leadership will be present in the way they roll up their sleeves and immerse themselves into their role. I want to publicly thank the outgoing Year 12 leaders who have just completed their time as leaders of Greg’s. We look forward to ensuring that the student leadership is a strong presence in our College.
The Student Leadership Team have a few takeaways that will be their guide this year, being:
- 7 Rules of 7 Leaders
- A new College Leaders Pledge
- Individual Leader goals
- Student Leadership Team goals
Student Leadership Team Goals
- To further strengthen the community
- To recognise efforts and achievements of the College
- To be present in all Year Groups to make a positive impact
- To continue to build a culture of positive attitudes inside and outside of the classroom
- To work together collectively to be a strong and united Leadership Team.
May I congratulate all of the students who have been appointed to these positions and I look forward to seeing how they handle the responsibilities they have been given and the positive impact that they make on our community over the next 12 months.
Thanks to Mr Coughlan for your presence and guidance of the boys over the two days, Mr Brennan for leading a session on Marist Leadership and Spirituality and Mrs Clarke for her organisation and planning of the Leaders Mass.
Celebrating Student Success
Hamish Crompton – Year 8
Over the holiday break, our very own, Hamish Crompton in Year 8, competed in the 2023 Australian Fire Cadet Championships. Hamish is an active member of the Appin Junior Rural Fire Service and he along with 5 other junior members competed in the competition against other teams from NSW RFS and teams from South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia.
This was the first time Appin had a team in the championships and there were plenty of learnings from the RFS Teams as they are quite competitive.
I am sure as you now know, we love to celebrate the successes of our students in both the Junior and Senior Schools. At morning ‘line up’ on a Monday morning, in Year Meetings or at assemblies, it is always special to be able to celebrate these successes in one way or another.
If your son or daughter has achieved something that we can help them celebrate and praise, please let us know at the College. Simply contact me at the College, jweekes@stgregs.nsw.edu.au as I would love to share this celebration with them and with our community.
As the St Gregory’s College motto states ‘You will reap what you sow’.
Mr Joel Weekes
Assistant Principal/Head of Senior School