From the Principal – March 2023
It is easy to feel affirmed and positive when surrounded by so many who are focused on the positive and keen to extend the boundary of what we can achieve. Watching the Year 7 cohort enjoy their Outdoor Education Camp early in the term gave confidence that they were excited about the opportunities to step out of their comfort zone and build upon new friendships. The Year 12 Class of 2023 working together with creative and innovative ideas to share with the student body during this year. And the Junior School classes that have a calm feeling, but ready and easy smiles are everywhere when I visit with students in the classroom. We know that the ‘feel’ of a school can make an enormous difference to all.
The Senior School Assembly at the commencement of the term was probably the best display of support by the students I have ever seen. Enthusiasm and school spirit (measured by the cheering and chanting) were abundant, and good humour amid competition as we learned our new St John’s War Cry written by Year 12 student Isaac Barnes-Cleary as he addressed the student body:
The Official St John’s Anglican College war cry is about unity and togetherness. These aren’t just words to yell, these are words to live. Red, White, and Blue; we wear these colours six days a week. We want you to have pride in these colours, pride in the uniform you are all wearing right now. Dragons. We see this dragon printed in the middle of our sports centre and on our sports uniforms. That’s us. The dragons. We are loud. We are proud. We want to hear you roar. Faith, Service, and Courage: these three words are embroidered on everyone’s chest. We want you to live by these words.
Striving to set the bar, what does this mean? Setting the bar starts with every single one of you in every single aspect of life. Setting the bar of what’s acceptable, setting the bar with how you study, how you train, how you play. This is up to all of us and shows how much pride we have for ourselves, each other, and for St Johns. Being as the next line says, loud and proud. This ideology of togetherness is something we as leaders are so passionate about. This comes in so many different forms. We know that if we are all physically and mentally linked, we won’t fear; together, we will be stronger. Putting everything in and risking everything for St Johns. The embracement of our old war cry acknowledges that everyone, past, present, and future students are St John’s. We are St John’s. – Isaac Barnes-Cleary
Arnold Bennett, a rather genial English novelist perhaps best known for his novel The Old Wives Tale said: “The chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance. The next year, the next day, and the next hour are lying ready for you, as perfect, as unspoiled, as if you had never wasted or misapplied a single moment in all your life. You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose.” The book suggests ways we can improve ourselves by finding extra time each day to pursue wholesome and constructive endeavours. All of this is a rather long-winded way of issuing this challenge, however productive we think we might have been last year, let’s strive to be even better in 2023.
Mrs Maria McIvor
Principal
