The start to any school year brings with it that uncomfortable feeling of putting on the shirt and tie and perhaps the new pair of school shoes. For some there is the adjustment of sleeping patterns, the butterflies in the stomach coupled with the exhilaration associated with all that is possible in a new school year. The nervousness and other associated emotions can be overwhelming; but for most this dissipates quickly as the rhythm of the day and the people they share it with bring a sense of calmness and belonging. For those who take a little more time to adjust, this is also quite natural and I hope the Meet the Mentor afternoon for Year 8 to 12 students helped make the start of the year more pleasant. For the new Year 7s it is crucial that parents maintain open lines of communication with your son’s Mentor. We welcome parent contact and see our partnership with you in supporting your son as central to your son’s success and happiness at the College.

On the first day I met with all the new Year 8 to Year 11 students before they were collected by their respective Head of House or Mentor. I shared the same advice a friend gave my own son before he started at his new school. Some of those words of advice were – ‘ease yourself in; you do not need to announce to the world you have arrived as your actions will do your talking for you’. I spoke of the welcome I had received and the kind and helpful nature of our staff and students. Of course things will not always be easy and nor should they be.

I would like to extend my welcome to the following new teaching staff to Stanmore:

• Mrs Jessie Lawson – Learning Enhancement (Canobolas High)
• Mr Phil Willis – Mathematics (UNSW)
• Ms Emily Portmann – Visual Arts (Riverview)
• Mrs Shelley Carruthers – Hospitality-D/T (Marist Kogarah)
• Dr Bryan Hall – Science (Physics) (Fort St High)
• Ms Genevieve Hayes – Mathematics (AIS Malaysia)
• Mr James Battaglia – Science (Chemistry) (CBC Lewisham)
• Mrs Naomi Tsvirko – English (Semester 1) (Holy Cross Ryde)
• Ms Caroline Naguib – Mathematics (North Kingsgrove High)
• Ms Maya Saker- French (part-time) (Penrith Anglican College)
• Mrs Cassandra Pride – English (part-time) (APA Grammar School)

The various co-curricular programs have started at a furious pace and I congratulate our senior leaders and particularly our senior rowers on the support they are offering the younger students in the program. In a school such as ours where there are strong connections across the College I saw first-hand what the gesture of help and support can do to the confidence of a younger student. Small gestures of kindness can have more impact than the giver thought possible, and can reverberate through the College and build on our ingrained culture of service. To lead is first and foremost to be prepared to serve others, and as Reverend David Williams so eloquently reminded me at my commissioning, humility is at the centre of leadership. Music, Drama and Sport are wonderful forums upon which such lessons can be learnt.

Mr David Roberts
Head of Stanmore / Deputy Headmaster