“If we walk in the light, as he is the light, we have fellowship with one another.” 1 John 1:7
To the family and friends of St Edmund’s College,
The Edmums event last Friday evening was certainly one of the community-event highlights of the year. It was wonderful to have such a large number of mothers attend the event (I believe around 88) sharing company, food and drink in strengthening and enriching our community. Thank you to all of our “Edmums” who attended – you certainly created a lively, positive atmosphere at Psychedeli in the city. Thanks to also to Sharon Isherwood who donated a beautiful hamper for the lucky door prize as well as providing a gift bag for all attended (Sharwood Hampers, sharwoodhampers.com.au). A very special thank you to the College Community Development and Engagement Team, Jodee Marques and Rachel Smith for their great organisation, time and effort, very ably supported on the night by staff members Mikhala Andersen and Rachel Lemon. After a COVID break last year, I feel that the Edmums events will continue to be a much-anticipated event in the College calendar.
Last Thursday evening we held our regular Careers Information Night. This is a valuable opportunity for our older boys to consider their post-school pathways. It was wonderful to see some positive and encouraging follow up posts and comments on LinkedIn from some of our old boys who came along to offer their advice and knowledge to our current students. Thank you to our Careers Adviser, Mrs Rebecca Jarman and to our VET Coordinator, Mr Alex Hausen, for their organisation and co-ordination of the event, and to our many stall holders for giving of their time and experience.
I recently came across an article written by a friend of mine for the Sydney Catholic Weekly. The author is Anthony Cleary, Director of Religious Education and Evangelisation for Sydney Catholic Schools. Anthony makes a very relevant and strong point about the pursuit of excellence and its place in Australian culture (especially Australian schools), using the Olympic Games as a context. I would like to share this article with you, hoping that its message has some resonance with you.
“Owing to COVID-19 restrictions, the Games of the XXXII Olympiad are like no other. Public spectators have been barred and athletes pursue dreams in near-empty stadiums, left in isolation to compete against rivals and themselves.
That said, the purpose and spirit of the games has not been diminished, and the age-old adage of Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger) still rings true.
The Olympics continue to represent ideals of human nature and the human spirit. They promote a genuine sense of shared humanity, with fellowship and camaraderie between different peoples and cultures, a commitment to self-improvement and the pursuit of excellence.
As people would well remember from Sydney 2000, the Olympics foster a unique spirit, characterised by a strong sense of fraternity and ‘oneness’ with others. They represent a departure from the mundane and the ordinariness of the everyday.
In so many respects, the Olympics are counter-cultural. An examination of Australian life, and that of other parts of the Western World, suggests that some of the Olympic ideals are dying, if not already dead.
Unlike the Olympics, where athletic achievement is progressively ‘faster, higher, stronger’, with new records set at each Games, the measurable standards of some sectors and industries are in decline.
As a teacher, I have long been concerned with approaches to education, student attitudes and achievement. For several decades, the educational sector has undergone cycles of review and reform.
Despite this, and the unprecedented financial investment of successive Australian governments, our nation’s place in international rankings of student achievement continues to drop. We must seek solutions to halt this trajectory of decline and raise the bar of our own educational standards. This of course, requires a change in our philosophical approach to learning and it involves the conscious and focused pursuit of excellence.
Excellence is not a dirty word, nor is competition.
For much of its history, Australia has been shackled with the reputation of the ‘tall poppy syndrome’, the phenomenon in which people’s successes and achievements are cynically derided by others. It rests on the belief that personal excellence leads to arrogance, and therefore should be avoided. It is a warped and misguided view of equality.
This cultural trait can be very damaging, and in the past has cost Australia some of its best and brightest minds. The recent Wimbledon championships, with the successes of our very own Ash Barty and Dylan Alcott, highlight that those who achieve excellence often embody humility and model the value of perseverance and hard work.
Despite worthy examples to the contrary, there remains a general suspicion of many ‘tall poppies’ and a resentment of their achievements. This is particularly sad as it often deters people, especially the young, from giving their best and pursuing their dreams.
How the ‘tall poppy syndrome’ took hold, I don’t know – for it goes against so many of our natural inclinations. Generally, we do rejoice in the achievements of others, especially if they are unanticipated or the result of dedication and hard work. And often, their successes inspire us in our own efforts.
We must guard against the idea that competition is a bad thing. If properly embraced, it is not. Rather, it teaches us many life-long values. Importantly, it teaches us that winning isn’t everything and that we don’t always win. It also teaches us how to be a good and gracious winner.
Some in our society abhor the idea of competition, believing that it can be destructive to people’s self-esteem. But that need not, nor should not, be the case. Leaving the centre court at Wimbledon as women’s champion, Ash Barty would have read the inscription of Rudyard Kipling, ‘if you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters just the same’.
Kipling’s verse is refreshing and insightful, making abundantly clear the nature and value of competition. The pursuit of excellence is decried by some as elitism, and for others it evokes a fear of failure. We should not be paralysed by prejudices or fears, however.
Like all Olympiads, the Tokyo games highlights both the appeal and value of Citius, Altius, Fortius. Through their example, the athletes remind us that the pursuit of excellence ultimately involves the giving of one’s best”.
Nicholas Odgers (Year 12), Treacy House Captain, also gave us an Olympic story of encouragement and hope in last week’s Vortex. If you haven’t read Nicholas’ article yet I would urge you to do so. https://sec.act.edu.au/outsider-to-olympic-champion/. Also in last week’s Vortex, Mr Trent Masters, our Head of Mulrooney House, also gave us an insight to the spirit of the Olympics and how this can be applied to school life. This article can be found here: https://sec.act.edu.au/lessons-from-the-olympics/
I would also urge all members of the St Edmund’s community to read the latest edition of The Pelican if you have not already done so. The Pelican is our alumni magazine, highlighting the stories of old boys of the College as well as other members of our parent community. There are some wonderful stories in The Pelican. I would like to thank Mrs Margaret Maher, our Assistant Principal ICT and Innovation, for producing the last edition of The Pelican. This can be found here (best to read it on a desktop or laptop) https://sec.act.edu.au/pelican/pelican-semester-1-2021/
I have started some preliminary discussions with our uniform suppliers about another level of warmth during our winter season. I strongly feel that for our students, a blazer and jumper for high school students or jacket and jumper for junior school students is just not warm enough on those mornings when we are looking at very low, single digit temperatures. The idea would be to have an optional puffer-type jacket that would be worn over the blazer or junior jacket. I already have a small group for students involved in exploring this idea and I would also like a small group of parents involved in an advisory capacity. If you are interested in being a part of this informal parent advisory team, would you please let me know by emailing me at principal@stedmunds.act.edu.au. Please note any meetings to explore these ideas are more than likely to be held during the school day so students can attend as well.
Gracious Father,
Whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven
to be the true bread which gives life to the world:
Evermore give us this bread,
that He may live in us, and we in Him;
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever
Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea