“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”

Galatians 6:9

We often use the beginning of a new year to set goals and look ahead with hope. While that optimism is important, it is equally valuable as we approach the final term, for students to recognise that an unfinished goal does not mean a wasted year. Instead, it is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and build on what they have learned so far.

This final term invites self-reflection and connection with the themes explored in our Pastoral Programs, while prompting two key questions:

• How do we start and finish well?
• Is one more important than the other?

At the end of last term, our newly appointed 2026 student leaders began preparing to start their leadership journey well.

The 2026 House Officers and Prefects, commissioned this week before the school community, took part in a two-day leadership retreat that challenged them physically, built teamwork, and deepened their understanding that strong foundations are essential for effective leadership. They have been able to start well.

My heartfelt thanks to the staff who mentored and supported our leaders during this time, Mrs Brennan, Mr Hughes, Mrs Juhn, Mrs Kemp, Mr Mottee, and Rev Moss, for their care and guidance.

For many Years 10 and 11 students, this term may bring mixed emotions as they adjust to not being selected for a formal leadership position. I share in their disappointment and encourage them to lean into the many informal opportunities for leadership that exist every day. The badge is not what matters most, rather it is how we finish the year that truly defines us. Efforts, even when not immediately visible, are part of a longer growth.

While our Year 11 students, who are beginning to be referred to as Year 12 students, are embarking on their final year of formal schooling, students in Years 7 to 10 will be focusing in their Pastoral Programs on what it means to finish well.

They will reflect on their strengths, challenges and unique qualities. They will set goals around positive risk-taking and healthy habits, and most importantly, learn to focus on what they can control, a mindset that will assist them to finish the year with purpose.

I hope that this term our students continue to develop the skills to both start and finish well, and that they recognise the value of thoughtful reflection and planning, not just in the moment, or at certain points in the year, but as habits that lead to ongoing growth.