From the Principal
It is wonderful to have the energy of the students back on campus, with the anticipation of all that lies ahead for us in 2021.
A warm welcome to all new members of our Redlands community. Whilst we are still restricted to only having groups of 30 on campus, it was most enjoyable to meet some of our new parents on Orientation Day on Wednesday. In the Secondary School I asked the students, and subsequently the parents, to give some background as to where they were from. The answers included places from around the world and reflected the global connections that bind our community. It also reminded me how fortunate we are to live in Australia during this time.
I appreciated the opportunity to speak at both the Junior School and Secondary School assemblies this morning and to share some reflections on the importance of gratitude. When I asked the students to indicate if their family’s travel and Christmas plans had been impacted over the break, the vast majority of hands were raised. I am thankful that Lynn and I were to be able to get to Perth and spend time with our three adult children, and somehow managing to time it when the borders were briefly open.
I encouraged all students to be grateful for the small things in life and the opportunities that lie before them this year and to make the most of them. Brother David Steindl-Rast, a Catholic Benedictine Monk, states:
“It is not happiness that makes us grateful. It is gratefulness that makes us happy. Every moment is a gift. There is no certainty that you will have another moment, with all the opportunity that it contains. The gift within every moment is the opportunity it offers. Most often it is the opportunity to enjoy it, but sometimes a difficult gift is given to us and that can be an opportunity to rise to the challenge”.
The message to our students today was to rise to the challenges before them and to demonstrate perseverance and resilience in the face of any adversity they may experience this year.
With our Secondary School students, and building on words from Mr Guha in the Junior School assembly, I shared my gratitude and the inspiration I had gained from the beautiful words of US National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, who was chosen to read her poem at the Inauguration of US President Joe Biden. She demonstrated the power of words to touch the heart and soul and to inspire positive transformation. I recommend you view the full recording of her delivering her poem. These were the words I selected to share and discuss with the students
“If we merge mercy with might
And might with right
Then love becomes our legacy…..
For there is always light
Only if we’re brave enough to see it
Only if we’re brave enough to be it”
Wonderful alignment with our School Motto and a powerful reminder that it takes moral courage to let our light shine in full intensity.
May 2021 be a most memorable and joyful year for you and your families and may our students’ lights shine brightly.
Mr Stephen Webber
Photo caption: Kindergarten students enjoying their first day at school.
