Mr Scott Thomson (Term 4, Week7)
Greetings to the Nudgee College community
American novelist and science fiction author, Frank Herbert once stated, “There is no real ending. It is just a place where you stop your story.” As you are reading this, our Year 12 students are have concluded their journey at the College.
It has certainly a busy week for many boys, and their families. Between Awards Night, the Year 12 Boarders Farewell Dinner and Valedictory, it has been a wonderful and fitting way to bid farewell to the place that has been such a big part of so many of their lives. Thank you to the Year 12 cohort for how you have “honoured the story and created a legacy”. I have to acknowledge the work of Charlie Bell and Grady Turner (College Vice-Captains) and Oscar Roati (College Captain); well done gents on how you led our school.
Last week during assembly, I spoke with the students about the recently completed Leader Appraisal process and how they could apply it to their performance throughout the year. I challenged the boys to gauge their progress in 2024 concerning our College Faith Star and the virtues outlined: faith, community, excellence, authenticity, courage, and justice. I then proceeded to provide feedback to the student body using the straightforward appraisal structure of affirmations (accountabilities) and considerations (growth areas). While the vast majority of our boys carry themselves highly with all elements of the Faith Star, some boys sadly make choices and behave in ways that contradict what we are about at Nudgee College.
All families who choose a Nudgee College education should understand
we will always work with those who make poor choices on the proviso that these mistakes are not repeated. Our Student Formation team is reviewing the performance of students who repeatedly make choices that adversely affect their peers and staff. Our staff’s energy needs to be focused on students who genuinely want to be the best for this school and make our school the best. As I continually say, a Nudgee education is a privilege, not an entitlement.
In saying that, I want to thank the overwhelming majority of boys who genuinely put their best foot forward daily. They do so not to garner thanks or adulation; they do it because they are authentic Nudgee men, pursuing excellence in all they do in a just and courageous way to ensure that within and without this community, they are a sign of faith.