FROM THE PRINCIPAL
This week our Senior students began their external examinations. These are high-stakes tests and I have been most happy with the staff and the preparation of the students. We pray that each of the boys has prepared well at home for these exams.
Pastoral Conference
Today, Mr Knight coordinated an Edmund Rice Education Pastoral Care conference at the College. Delegates have come from most of the Edmund Rice Colleges in Queensland to attend. The schedule was excellent and I thank Mr Knight on behalf of our Edmund Rice schools for convening this event.
School Advisory Council
At the conclusion of this year Dr Michael Drew steps down in his capacity as chair of our College Council. I thank Michael for his attention to detail, his advice and assistance in building some meaningful partnerships.
From 2024 Mr Micheal Batch will assume the role as Council Chair. We also welcome Bridget Totterman and Tanya Hansen to the Council in 2024. I also wish to thank John Vaitsas, Genevieve Green, Stephen O’Kane, Michelle Prendergast, Ben Lowrie and Heather Batchelor for their continued commitment to the College as Council members.
Preparations for 2024
As we move into the final month of school, we are very happy with a number of initiatives for 2024. The Council and College Leadership Team are currently in the process of finalising the College Strategic Plan for 2024-2026. Stage 1 of the Master Plan continues as we are in the process of obtaining new estimates for Stage 1.
The Hogan deck refurbishment will be complete by March 2024 with seating for up to 400 students. We are also in the process of finalising staffing for 2024. Currently, the College has a waiting list in all year levels and we are finalising preparations to welcome students in Years 5 and 7, 2024. I ask all parents to inform us as soon as possible if it is your intention to change schools in 2024.
On Monday we will hold the funeral service for Addison Miller at the College. I thank our Music Staff, Mr Paul Corfield, Mr Will Pike and Mr Stewart Williams and the Maintenance Staff for their assistance with this. I wish the Miller family all the best for Monday on your behalf.
World Teachers Day
We thank our incredible staff for all that they do at the school. A teacher can make all the difference in the lives of many. I use a story to illustrate this.
The story of Teddy Stoddard
There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher. Her name was Mrs Thompson. And as she stood in front of her fifth-grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children what they must have thought was a lie.
Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard. Mrs Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records, and she put Teddy Stoddard's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Teddy's first-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners...he is a joy to be around."
His second-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy Stoddard is an excellent student, well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."
His third-grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy Stoddard is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.
Mrs Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was. She put it on and dabbed some of the perfume on her wrist.
Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children.
Mrs Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy Stoddard became one of her "pets."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he stayed in school, had stuck with it and would soon graduate from College with the highest of honours. He assured Mrs Thompson that she was still the best and favourite teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favourite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.
The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.
The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.
Of course, Mrs Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.
They hugged each other, and Dr Stoddard whispered in Mrs Thompson's ear, "Thank you, Mrs Thompson, for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference." Mrs Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
May God Bless you all!
MR CHRIS LEADBETTER
College Principal
