Perseverance

Schools are busy, exciting and filled with opportunities for learning and growth. Schools are places where students are able to strive to do their best. Penrith Anglican College, in a very short time, has highlighted this for me.

We live in challenging times, especially for our young people. It is no longer sufficient to know the answer to a particular problem, as important as this is. It is more important that we can apply this knowledge to provide a practical solution. How do we go about this task?

Thomas Edison, while contemplating the electric light, describes the process of invention as ‘failing his way to success’. He described something that did not work as a step closer to something that did work.

When we were a child and learnt how to ride a bike, we may have used training wheels and even toppled over on occasion. Many parents carefully assist their children in learning how to balance and propel themselves forwards. However, for many this does not come naturally or without accident.

Our student’s learning is no different. Our students need the structure, support and the encouragement of the College to grow and develop in their learning and personal growth. However, if we are not challenging our students slightly beyond their perceived capacity, how do we expect them to develop their potential appropriately?

I have observed that the students at Penrith Anglican College are very keen to participate in a variety of activities. From the Colour Run, to preparing for the Dusty Boots service week, to standing on stage in front of peers, to preparing for a mock election, the students are prepared to give of their best.

This highlights the quality of teaching and learning, with staff providing the scaffold, support and encouragement for students to seek to go beyond their typical comfort levels.

Failure, of course, is too harsh a term. For learning to be productive we have to know what does and does not work.

I commend the attitude, aptitude and the willingness of students to engage actively in their wide variety of activities. Of course, all this is shaped by the character development which comes from the Christian mission of the College which undergirds all the programs and activities at the College.

This is a direct result of the quality of teaching programs and, importantly, how the staff at the College engage the students. Congratulations. All this bodes well for the future growth of the academic and co-curricular programs at the College.