You can sense it around the College, we have reached the very peak season of the school year. At most other times of year, deadlines are a bit ‘elastic’. In the middle of the year, it feels like we have a bit of wiggle room, but at this point, deadlines become a solid barrier. Personally, as a Chaplain, this period is very busy, as I prepare for the new year while trying to finish 2025 strong. As a College, we have said farewell to one-third of the students as the Year 11s and 12s have finished, and our peer mentors are getting ready to welcome all the new Year 7s for 2026.
The highlight of the moment is the training of the new student leaders. We run our emerging Year 11/7 Mentors through a two-day training program aimed at developing our young people into positive role models, empathetic listeners, and servant leaders. Helping our students develop an understanding of themselves and how to lead is probably one of the most enjoyable facets of being a Chaplain.
Over the two days, we expose our Year 10 students to the mature idea that everyone leads in some way. For many of our students, we open a door to their future selves that they have never considered. We teach them that leadership is never neutral, and that all leaders can be either a positive or a negative influence. We help them discover their strengths, understand who they are, and learn how to grow into better versions of themselves. This journey for our student leaders is to equip them to look beyond themselves and see the bigger picture, that guiding and leading are human skills that every person can develop. We hope that they are influenced to become better students, and grow to be outstanding employees, managers, partners and maybe one day in the future, parents.
Peter Chase
College Chaplain • Pastoral Care
