Welcome to the school year. We are all excited to have your children back at the school.
The commencement of the year has been very smooth indeed. The teachers all ‘swarmed’ the grounds in welcome to all students, both seasoned and new. It was a delight to hear the high levels of relational warmth in the conversations between students and teachers.
As I walked the campus at 9:15am on the first day, I observed that students were in classes, connections were being made in readiness for learning to begin, and a comforting calm was everywhere. We have had an enviable start to the year. I would urge any parent or guardian whose child has yet to have an ideal experience to contact their child’s homeroom teacher and bring this to their attention.
Last year, at the Graduation and Thanksgiving Night, we announced to the community the student leaders of 2026, and today’s ceremony is the formal conferring of the offices of Co-Captain and Co–Vice Captain.
On Thursday, in our Secondary Assembly, we invested these students formally into their roles.
The College Captains of Melton are Kai Fahnbullah and Ashlan Egan-McCormick. The College Vice Captains of Melton are Martha Yazar and Callum Spratling.
During the assembly, we explained our expectations of leadership at the school.
‘…leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal. Defining leadership as a process means that it is not a trait or characteristic that resides in the leader, but an exchange and investment that occurs between leaders and the folk they lead. This emphasises that leadership is not a linear, one-way event, but rather an interactive process. When leadership is defined in this manner, it becomes available to everyone. It is not restricted to only the formally designated leader.’ ('I’m the Principal' by Stephen Dinham)
We admire servant leadership and aspire to this being the prevailing expression of leadership at the school. The Biblical premise for leadership is the servant leader, as modelled to us by Christ:
“And there was also a strife among them, which of them was accounted the greatest. And He said unto them, the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.” (Luke 22:24–26)
It is our conviction that every person is capable of influence, and thus we should equip all students for their calling to be expressed.
In this capacity, leaders become builders of community. They belong because they are charged with a responsibility to make a difference.
There are four elements that I want to mention here:
1. Christ Centred – This is the most central element. It is our anchor point.
2. Spirit-led – We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge that there is no junior Holy Spirit. His Spirit can move through young and old alike. We believe in revelation as a central element of a Christ-centred community. This revelation forms a necessary part of visioning our future.
3. Representative – The leaders of the school have the privilege and responsibility to connect with and represent the rest of the student community.
4. Generational – Each generation captures a new sense of God’s consistent message. In the language of the world, this is referred to as Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, Gen A and Gen B. Each of these terms describes a way of seeing the world that captures a new perspective with truth to Christ’s message in the world. As students who have worked through the various year levels of our school, you will have a different experience that, when expressed, maintains the vibrancy and relevance of the community spirit.
We are excited by the prospects of the year.
We are looking forward to sharing the journey with you.