Page 5 - Southwell School Year Book 2019

PRIZE GIVING ADDRESS - TRUST BOARD CHAIRMAN
Congratulations to all students that have completed this year. Whether you have secured a special prize or not, well done for you own successes, for your own achievements and for meeting your own goals.
This last year at Southwell has been very busy managing a continuously growing roll and strong wait lists for all year groups. Once again I am presenting commentary around being the largest roll in our history. And 2020 is going to be our strongest starting roll, again. This is a wonderful position to be in and is a credit to all of the positive changes that have been made and the solid referrals we are gaining. We have a hugely supportive and enthusiastic headmaster, an engaged senior leadership team and a staff group that are committed to our values and success. But most important we have students that are all wanting to come to their school.
Although, regardless of this strong positon we continue to challenge ourselves with betterment. We reflect on Waikato’s population growth, buoyant financial markets, the lack of educational competition and alternative primary schooling options. By doing this, we are ensuring that our strength and success is due to our performance, outputs and great value rather than generic regional growth conditions.
Considering this, and the need to deliver on our commitments, we have chosen to effect a roll cap of 650. Our goal is not to be bigger but to be better. We pride ourselves on personalised education with smaller class sizes, enabling our staff to deliver quality over quantity.
For this last year we have focused on our wonderful staff and their well-being. In order to proactively teach and positively influence our children, our staff need to be engaged, productive, rested and healthy. Professional development across the whole team has been on one’s self. In today’s world where change is fast and pressure is everywhere, we have understood that staff who are healthy and feel cared for, perform better.
I wish every success to this wonderful school, and to every individual that its special character touches.
Per aspera ad Astrum
Jeff de Leeuw
So, with respect to the staff, I wish to thank you for your hard work, your late nights, early mornings, Saturday sport, after school care, opera support, and all the other extra- curricular activities you undertake for the benefit of our students.
I can also report that the relationship and teamwork between the Foundation, S.S.A. and O.B.G.A. is strong. The Board has continued to receive fantastic support and good will from all these bodies and we are so grateful for their success and commitment.
Our current vision document, United as Southwell gives attention to teaching and learning, relationships, balance and well- being, and spaces. This document has been a great platform for decision making over the last few years but through the middle of this year we tested it with a Board and Senior Leadership session on our future strategy. We asked What could Southwell look like in five, ten and 20 years’ time? and What do we need to be aware of today that keeps us relevant for the future of tomorrow?
This discussion was a great assessment on our thinking and we encouraged some exciting blue sky ideas. What was very clear, however, is that we are very proud of our traditions, heritage and culture. These will continue to be a major key to our future success.
Regarding our Trustees, we have received the resignation of two of our longer standing trustees, Karen O’Meeghan and Mark McCabe, both after nine years on the Trust Board. Karen has been tireless in her support and hard work having also been President of the S.S.A. during that time. Mark has led the finance and risk committee and done an outstanding job. We are so appreciative of their commitment, knowledge and care.
This will also be my final report as I have also resigned as a trustee and will complete my term as Chairman at the end of this year. I have completed five years as Chairman and nearly seven years on the Trust Board. I am extremely appreciative of the tremendous support I have been given from the whole Southwell community. Gary Mollard will take over as Chairman from 2020 and we can look forward to his strong leadership and support. We have also gained three new trustees in Andrew Peckham, Tammy Hurst and Blair Edwards. With all three being current parents, and Andrew and Blair being old boys, we are very fortunate to have their strong connection to Southwell alongside their varied professional knowledge and expertise.
A quick congratulations and thanks to all of the parents and caregivers that have supported our children to be here and achieve their respective wins. We all make sacrifices during
the year, whether it be financial obligations or with personal time, and your commitments are appreciated.
During this Founder's Day, I was asked to speak to the school and I chose to reflect on a conference speaker that I heard nearly 20 years ago. The content of my talk focused on just three points. They resonated with me way back then, and from reflection around our school it seems they have resonated with the young ears of the students too. But these three simple points are relevant for us all, in such a busy, demanding, complex society that we find ourselves living in.
Positivity
Positivity breeds positivity. Be positive, be happy, and be kind. The more positive you are, the more positive everyone around you will be. If you are kind, all of your friends will be kind. If you help someone out, they will help you out. Don’t associate with negative people, they unnecessarily suck the life out of you. Even if you have to fake it sometimes – put a smile on, and be positive.
Be Grateful
Count your blessings. All of us, every single day has something happen to us that is great. Think about those things. Tell people about it. Remember them. Reflect on them. Thank someone every day. Be grateful. Even when some stuff is hard, think of the things that have gone well. Appreciate your family. Be thankful for those special friends and family that love you. If you look out for it, every day, something will be awesome.
Don’t Worry
Sometimes, things don’t go your way, things might seem hard or may be outside of your control. But don’t worry. Either, do something about it, or not. Because if you can’t do something about it, then it is not worth worrying about. You can’t stop it raining, so don’t worry about it, just get an umbrella or a rain coat. And if you can’t get either of those things. Just get wet, dance and laugh about it.
But, if something is still worrying you. Then talk about it. A problem shared, is a problem halved. Talk to your teacher, your colleague, your neighbour, your partner or your friend. Get support. Ask for help. Be resilient, but don’t worry.
Southwell School Yearbook 2019
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