When I think of Holy Cross College, I think how proud I am of this school and how I am proud of
everyone; students, staff and parents. There are many things that make me proud. Simple things like good manners,
wearing the uniform well, saying hello as you walk past, to bigger things like putting in your
best effort, just missing out on first place in the G-Division ACC Athletics, the great performances at the Catholic Performing Arts Festival, the spectacular
work in the Arts Showcase, the brilliance of Feast Day, and the outstanding
academic results.
Even
when a student makes a mistake and gets into a bit of trouble I can find
reasons to be proud. I am proud when students learn from their mistakes, move
on and give of their best.
I
am proud of our teachers and support staff, who put in such a lot of time and
effort to make this school the best it can be.
As
we begin the Spring Term, I would like to thank everyone for their amazing
efforts last term; a term that was full of awesome opportunities and fun
events. Events like Book Week, Life Week, Blessing and Opening of the new
buildings, Movie Night, Sacraments of Reconciliation and Confirmation, ACC
Athletics, Catholic Schools’ Performing Arts Festival, Fathers’ Day Liturgy and
Breakfast, Feast Day, and the Arts Showcase.
We
truly have committed to our College motto of living “Life to the Full”.
Towards
the end of the Winter Term we undertook a process of selecting new student leaders in
the Middle and Senior Schools. I would like to take this opportunity to thank
the Captains and leaders of 2017 who have made an amazing contribution to the
life of the College through their support for many activities including College
tours, Junior School Disco and Middle Social, sports carnivals, Movie Night,
and introduction of the leaders meeting room and many more events and projects.
I especially thank Rebecca Hughes and Catilyn McKenzie, our College Captains,
for their overall leadership and guidance throughout the year. They have set a
very high benchmark for future student leaders.
Well
done too, to the students who have nominated for a leadership position in 2018,
I wish you well in the selection process. It was great to see so many students
willing to put their hand up and volunteer their talents and service to the
school. 2018 Leaders will be announced at the Annual Celebration Evening in
October 2017.
As
we look towards the Spring Term, which is the beginning of a new school year
for students in the Senior School, I encourage our students to reflect on their efforts and set some new goals.
Goals about study, sport or diet.
Have you ever gone a diet and then
given up because you couldn’t resist a piece of pizza? Or started an exercise
programme and then one morning couldn’t be bothered getting out of bed so
didn’t carry on. Or got a low mark in a test so gave up on that subject? How
often have you started out on achieving a long-term goal and then given up
before you get there. Giving up appears to be part of human nature but some
people overcome obstacles and carry on.
What makes the difference?
Psychiatrists have studied this
problem and distinguished between a lapse and a relapse. A lapse is when you
have that forbidden piece of pizza. A relapse is when you eat the whole pizza
and abandon your diet altogether.
A lapse is a slip or a mistake. A
relapse is a return to old habits. The psychiatrists think an occasional lapse
is an important part of the journey towards your long-term goal. Learning to
cope with a temporary setback helps to reinforce your determination and ability
to succeed. The key is to take immediate action when the lapse occurs. Failed a
test? Go back to your books and notes and study that topic again so you do
better the next time. Once you understand the difference between a lapse – a
temporary setback – you can avoid a relapse, the total collapse of your goal.
The occasional failure is part of the
road to success. Throughout his life, our College Patron, Oscar Romero, endured
many moments of lapse and relapse, but through a deep sense of courage and
determination faced his challenges head on to achieve greater liberty for his
people, the people of El Salvador.
Now is the time to reflect on your
goals and ask yourself how you are going. Have you had a lapse or a relapse?
Re-establish your goals and set some new goals for Spring Term, Term 4, so at
the end of the year you can say I did my best.
I would like to wish our Senior School
students well in their coming exams, especially our Year 12 students. I have a little advice for our students as they prepare for their exams:
Believe –
while others are doubting
Plan – while
others are playing
Study – while
others are sleeping
Decide - while
others are delaying
Prepare –
while others are daydreaming
Begin – while
others are procrastinating
Work - while
others are wishing
Save – while
others are wasting
Listen – while
others are talking
Smile – while
others are frowning
Commend –
while others are criticising
Persist –
while others are quitting
For everyone else, I hope you had an
enjoyable and restful holiday break, ready for a big effort in the Spring Term.
Mr Peter Collins
Acting Principal
No comments:
Post a Comment