Dear St John the Apostle community,

Last night I spent time with our Year 6 students at the Cooba Sport & Education Centre. It was the second night of the camp and they were very tired but it was a great opportunity to spend time with our senior class and student leaders, particularly having a little fun and relaxation time with them.

Thank you to Mr Brett Seaman and Ms Sarah Collins for taking the students on camp. It takes a great deal of organisation to hold a successful camp. Thank you for their planning, preparation and their encouragement for anxious children and parents. Thank you also to Miss Laura Monaghan and Ms Rebekah Brown. Laura is one of our very capable and appreciated Inclusion Assistants and has helped students throughout the camp and Ms Brown spent the first day and evening with the students as well.

Developing student leadership is an important part of the journey of every student at St John the Apostle. While the public face of student leadership occurs in Year 6, when students take on roles such as captains or peer leaders, we begin developing leadership qualities from the moment they begin in Kindergarten. 

From the outset we try to encourage in every child:

• a strong sense of being comfortable with themselves and their uniqueness, understanding that they aren't always the best or greatest at everything, but neither is anyone else, and that's okay. It takes all colours to make a rainbow. True acceptance of themselves helps students see the good in everyone else.
• the willingness to try hard and to persist when something doesn't come to them quickly or easily. It gives them empathy for others who are struggling.
• to experience joy in celebrating others and letting them shine, even when their is no spotlight on themselves. It is part of being more community minded and rather than always individually focused.
• the ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively on shared goals and achievements. 'Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed citizens to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.' (Margaret Mead)

Sometimes we ascribe 'leadership' to those that are appear confident and decisive. But we all know people who are confident and decisive and also manage people poorly, send everyone off in the wrong direction, or are not willing to do any of the hard work themselves but happy to get everyone else to do it.

I like the words of Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter series):

“It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well.”

That's why we begin developing student leadership capacity from the moment they enter school. To be a successful leader in Year 6 requires students to have some confidence in themselves, confidence in others and confidence in the world. Some students develop this before they get to Year 6. Some students develop this during Year 6. As a culmination of our work, we hope we send them into high school with a good foundation.

Matthew Garton

Principal