Exploring the Strategic Pillar of Mission and Service
As you may recall in the last few editions of Illalong, Principal/Head of College, Joanne Sheehy and Director of Teaching and Learning, Richard Worsey, have been exploring the A.B. Paterson College Strategic Pillars and Values to demonstrate how they are used to refine our programs.
The Strategic Intent has, at its core, the belief of One College, One Focus, and is grounded in whole school goals and strategies to ensure a seamless transition for our students from one year to the next.
Our Vision is to develop in our students the intellectual character necessary to become passionate about the ongoing pursuit of learning; to have the skills and confidence to succeed in an increasingly complex world; and to become committed to creating positive futures for the good of all, through leadership, service and active participation in our community.
The Strategic Pillar: Mission and Service, which intersects with the other Strategic Pillars and works in collaboration with the Strategic Pillar: Innovation, Transformation and Leadership aims to focus on providing our students, staff and parents with a community that:
- Is inclusive and welcoming, fostering a shared purpose that it is built on mutual trust and respect;
- Promotes goodwill and care of self and others;
- Develops positive relationships that form the foundation to enact positive change within the College and wider community; and
- Builds capacity to develop character and leadership potential.
Thankfully, the College values the contribution of all of our students and their families. In the coming weeks, parents and hopefully grandparents, may like to consider assisting us with the development of our Service-learning project to build a Community Garden on the College grounds. The idea behind the creation of the Community Garden is two-fold, in that it will provide an opportunity for families to work alongside their children to create the garden, and it will allow us to have lively conversations with students about problem solving, healthy eating and sustainable living.
Further to this new Service-learning project, we will be maintaining our service partnerships with Wesley Mission Brisbane (WMB) Youngcare Apartments Coomera, The Animal Welfare League Queensland and Wildcare Inc. Australia to name but a few, and to grow our partnership with Arcare Helensvale. I would encourage you to ask your children about the notion of using their Heads, Hands and Hearts to help others which is a central element of all we do.
To enhance our relationships with external organisations, the staff will again be participating in the annual A.B. Paterson College Staff Community Service Day later this year. This event commenced in 2016 and quickly became a highlight of the staff calendar, by providing us with an opportunity to give back to the College and wider College Community. Being able to role model and live the notion of using one’s Head, Hands and Heart to help others, allows us to have meaningful conversations with our students on why it is important to assist those who may never be able to repay us, and to create a culture of care and goodwill.
Another example of caring for others is the College House Fundraising program. As you may recall each year the Houses facilitate various fundraising activities to raise funds for The Salvation Army, Orange Sky Laundry, World Vision and Wesley Mission Brisbane (WMB) Youngcare Apartments Coomera. This Term, our fundraising will commence with the Dennis House Sleep Out and the Lawson House Talent Quest. A big thank you to Heads of House, Ali Ward and Peter Brookes, for their work in preparing and running these events in consultation with our Year 12 Student Leaders. Deputy Head of Junior School: Pastoral Care, Steve Clacher, is also working behind the scenes to facilitate the upcoming Years 4-6 Disco scheduled for 24 March – thank you Steve. Funds raised at the Disco will also contribute to the College fundraising program.
In order to continue to provide opportunities for our students to develop their leadership potential, 2019 saw the College move to portfolio-based positions for the fourteen Year 12 Student Leaders. This move has led to the refinement of our student lead initiatives and a genuine excitement among the leaders to continue to foster College spirit. This was evident at the recent APS Swimming Carnival send-off, with students from Years 4-12 in the Maths Courtyard to joyously – code, loudly – farewell our swimmers. In the first few weeks of the year, we have also seen students at Mingling Mondays in the Junior School, Year 3 Meditation, Interact Club lunchtime events such as the Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Ball Games and Trivia, along with the introduction of Yarn Club which occurs on a Monday at lunch for students in Years 1-12 who would like to meet weekly to have the opportunity to chat, or yarn, with others and to create knitted items at the same time. We offer students a number of activities in order to grow their character. Character development is critical to our wellbeing, but it doesn’t stop with attendance at, and participation in, various activities. We also foster character development through teachable moments in the classroom, on the sporting field and in the creative and Performing Arts arena.
To close, the College’s Strategic Pillars interconnect, and together provide an opportunity for more than academics alone. It is the opportunity and development of character, social responsibility and contemporary learning and engagement skills that enable our students to rise as leaders in our community and the broader society.
Toni Kirton - Director of Positive Education and Leadership
One of the recurring themes from our visit with the Character Builders was to 'think about what you are doing, and why you are doing it.' Damon, the owner and director of Character Builders, regularly talked about the importance of using our 'Intellectual Property’, our ‘IP’; the reason behind why we do something that we do (because of the results we will get). Think about your IP as your Character Strengths – how and why do you use your strengths as a leader? To use Damon as an example, he regularly uses the Character Strengths of kindness and humour while presenting to schools. He's kind because he makes sure there is no one left out in a group and he uses humour to make people feel relaxed. By using these strengths together, he can ensure that everyone feels included and comfortable in a group setting. Think about what your top Character Strengths are, and then think about how these strengths can be applied to both home and school to make a difference and be a leader. 
