Student Leadership

Student Leaders have a crucial role in supporting the College Vision, which is “To be a Christ centred learning community that inspires and equips students to build purposeful lives.” We learn in 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 that God has given each of us gifts that He wants us to use to serve Him and others. All students have an opportunity to express their gifts for the benefit of the whole College community and our Student Leaders have a unique opportunity to set a visible example.

Recently, I presented our Year 12 Student Leaders with the following riddle. What do an oak tree, an iceberg and a yacht have in common? While these objects may seem randomly selected, one student quickly picked up their similarity and stated “they all have something unseen below the surface which is supporting what can be seen above the surface”. That student was correct in their observation. An oak tree has a large system of roots that spread far and wide below the ground to support the wide spread branches that sway in the wind. The saying “tip of the iceberg” literally refers to the significantly larger mountain of ice that sits below the water supporting the smaller section that can be seen above. A yacht would tip over very quickly if it wasn’t for the ballast and keel providing a counterbalance for the force of the winds on the sails. These images provide analogies for the relationship between leadership and character. Proverbs 4:23 states “it is from the heart of a person that proper attitudes and actions flow”. For our student leaders, it is the public actions of leadership that will be seen by others in our community but, it is what lies beneath the surface that really counts. As Proverbs reminds us, the growth and quality of leadership is directly related to the heart. Like an oak tree with an underdeveloped root system that topples in the wind, so we have seen many leaders in the public eye brought down by scandals that reveal underdeveloped character. For all of our students the development of character is essential so that they can flourish and fulfill the plans God has for them.

Earlier this term we commissioned the newly appointed Student Leadership Team for 2022-23. As a College we prayed that God will guide them in their crucial role that supports and builds the College community. As part of the leadership application process students considered the question “What makes a good leader?” Jesus’ leadership style was radically different to many leaders past and present. He did not seek status or power but rather lived a life of service and challenged others to do the same. We are reminded in Philippians 2: 5-11 that our attitude should be the same as that of Jesus, who did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant. Leadership should therefore be understood as servanthood under the rule and authority of God. As a result, the most important qualities of all leaders should be that of humility and a heart for service.   

I am thankful for the positive contributions our leaders will make to College life. The Student Leadership Team will have opportunities to express their gifts across a broad range of areas. The College’s Building Purposeful Lives (BPL) framework for learning and life is a key expression of all that we value and seek to instil in the lives of all students, including our student leaders.  I have been greatly encouraged by listening to each of them speak about the way they want to lead and I firmly believe they will have an impact that is lasting and powerful. The qualities our student leaders display truly fills me with optimism for our future. Please join me in upholding them in prayer as they serve our community over the next year.

Daryl Hinton
Head of Secondary Years