From the Deputy Head Master – Summer Hill

Holy God, source of all love,
on the night of his betrayal
Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment,
to love one another as he loved them:
write this commandment in our hearts,
and give us the will to serve others
as he was the servant of all,
who gave his life and died for us,
yet is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen

The Collect for Maundy Thursday

Last Friday evening was an opportunity to get together and celebrate the conclusion of the Summer Sport Season at the Canada Bay Club. The mood was especially buoyant as it is still somewhat novel for the School community; parents, sons, teachers, and coaches to gather and mingle, face to face. Congratulations to those young athletes who were recognised by the presentation of awards. Special mention must go to Steven Yarad (12Mu), the Captain of Volleyball, who won the unofficial Best Speech Award.

Congratulations to the boys of Year 7, the Peer Support Leaders, the Monitors, and the School Officers on a wonderful ‘Match of the Day’ experience last Saturday afternoon when the 1^st XV played St Patrick’s College on No. 1 Oval. The weather was kind, the cheering and support was outstanding, and a good afternoon appeared to be had by all. It was also good to see the 1^st XV open their account with a win. Well done especially to Oliver Walker (12Fo) who has taken it upon himself to galvanise the School’s support at Basketball, Water Polo, CAS Swimming, and Saturday’s fixture. He has been conspicuous in both his cream blazer and his enthusiasm, and I expect we will see more of his infectious brand of encouragement next term.

This week we also had the privilege of a visit from Dr Justine Toh, a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity, as this year’s guest speaker at our annual Easter Mission. She spoke very thoughtfully on the subject of achievement addiction, and the fine line we walk between high expectations, and the very real possibility that young people may come to view their ATAR as the sum total of their worth as a person. In a setting like ours that values a growth mindset and continual improvement, it is an ongoing challenge to manage that tension, and to be clear to your sons that they cannot be measured simply by a number. She challenged the value of the 21^st Century meritocracy and the worship of competition by quoting The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard in Matthew 6, a parable that concludes with the words, … the last will be first, and the first will be last. In God’s economy, she says in her book, the same grace is freely available to all. Your sons were offered a copy of her book as a gift, Achievement Addiction, and, if a copy has made it home, it is a thought-provoking read.

May I extend my best wishes to you and your sons for a blessed, holy, and happy Easter.

Bradley Barr | Deputy Head Master – Summer Hill