For the first time in 14 years I am not delivering my end of year oration. Here is my 2023 Presentation Night Speech for my school. Revisiting this speech brings wonderful reflections. I share this with you.
End of year Principals Speech 2023.
I too acknowledge this Murramarrang Country and people of the Yuin nation, country is a living entity with a yesterday, today, and tomorrow, with a consciousness, and a will toward life”. Is, was and will always be.
My heart was very heavy for our mob this year. Whatever your view or opinion is. The week following the 14th oct was like no other. We gave our First Nations people time and space.
Sunday morning after the vote for the Referendum, I did my usual travel to Sydney , via Moruya airport for a meeting of secondary principals. On the quick bus trip from the plane to the terminal. I sat next to a beautiful First Nations girl, (I didn’t want her to sit alone) and she sat with her bag in front of her. I wanted to hug her and tell her; how sorry I was. The bus was silent.
As we began to alight, we both looked at each other and we both smiled. She gave me a warm smile, full of wisdom and kindness. I will never forget that smile. 15th Oct. 2023.
‘The day you plant the seed, is not the day you eat the fruit’.
As we come together in this space, let us commit ourselves to learning from the past, understanding the complexities of our shared history, and working collaboratively towards a future where the voices and perspectives of all Australians, especially the First Nations people, are respected, valued, and heard.
To the final-ness of being here and nowhere else. We are here.
This culminates our 2023 school journey.
As we wrap up the year of 2023, It would be a miss of me not to mention, the incredible achievements of our students, from taking to the stages of almost every venue possible, from Sydney townhall, the arenas of Wollongong, Sydney cricket, athletics and football fields to the highest levels across Australia, to accolades at all levels, government and parliament house, from prestigious galleries of NSW, to empowering voice of a nation, to the heights of the Kokoda track, the snow covered mountains to the success of our writers, scientists, mathematicians, and linguists. We are indeed a world class school.
So CHATGTP, what the heck! … what is this thing called AI … Ai is here and now in a big way.
Only in a short 12 months the pervasive nature of AI has well and truly hit education, however, like most things’ education, we need to provide the environment in which we learn, rather than ban. The conversation continues, and it is clear that the technology is moving so quickly, that the need to understand, and embrace the potential is the logical approach, then locking down. You might say, so what? The question I will ask you. Did I write this speech? or
Did a chatbot, say CHATGPT? Did I just put in a couple of hints, some names, context, hints and then press, Principals Speech 750 words, Thanks.
Hold that thought and question. Make that judgement at the end.
Teaching the Dispositions of Learning.
Recognising the dispositions of living a life. Throughout tonight’s presentation you will notice that many awards recognise beyond marks and test scores, we recognise the qualities and dispositions of being good learners and being good people. As I do with each speech, I read, I research, I prepare and I think, beyond celebrating the obvious achievements, I would like to leave you with some food for thought.
Such things as creativity, empathy, grit, curiosity are hard things to measure, but you certainly can see when it is there. That is, we can’t really put a mark on it and measure it. Can these things be taught?
Lets look at Grit.. the five areas of grit:
- Courage
- Conscientiousness: Achievement oriented versus dependable
- Long-term goals and endurance: The Follow through
- Resilience: Optimism, confidence, and creativity
- Excellence versus perfection.
Researcher Margaret Perlis states that while a key component of grit is resilience, resilience is the powering mechanism that draws your head up, moves you forward and helps you persevere despite whatever obstacles you face along the way. When she asked a group of teachers what has changed with regards to the character of kids, in unison they said “grit”—or more specifically, lack thereof.
There seems to be growing concern among teachers that kids these days are growing soft. They have lost their ability to have grit, they have become soft, particularly in western cultures, they are not fighting in trenches, food supplies are good, very few places across the world do not have running water of some kind, comparatively speaking. We are living, in some of the most advantaged times in history.
J.M Barrie delivered a speech on the 3rd May to 1922, despite having produced dozens of successful novels J.M. Barrie is to most, simply the creator of peter pan, the character of peter which is so woven into the fabric of youth. In 1922, as the world was still recovering from the losses of the first world war, he delivered an inaugural address to the student’s office St. Andrews University on the subject of courage and grit.
‘my own theme is courage, as you should use it in the great fight that seems to me to be coming between youth and their betters: by youth, meaning of course, you, and by betters, us (adults). I want you to take up this position that youth have for too long left exclusively in our hands the decisions in national matters that are more vital to them than us. Things about the next war, for instance, and why the last one ever had a beginning. I use the word fight because it must, I think it must begin with a challenge: but the aim is the reverse of antagonism, it is a partnership. I want you to hold that the time has arrived for youth to demand that partnership and demand it courageously.’. that was 1922.
From that 1922 exert written by the creator of Peter pan to now, 2023, almost 100 years later, I want to share that indeed young people are full of grit, focus, enduring empathy and compassion. This is one of our students story.
“I am no stranger to challenges.
On the 4th of January, 2021, my Dad was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. From the start, we were told that there wasn’t a cure. All they could offer us was time. Even when faced with the ever-losing battle of cancer, I did not see my father back away from the challenge. During this battle, my father underwent gruelling chemotherapy, radiation, trials and even terrible homemade potions.
As a family, we spent the last 9 days of his life in Wollongong Hospital. During this dark time, we shared memories and reminisced. During this, I came to the conclusion that my favourite memory was when we climbed Mount Bhutang in Bali Indonesia which stood 1600 metres above sea level.
It was our greatest physical triumph and still remains to this day. The climb was mostly completed in darkness with the exception of a head-mounted flashlight. Upon reaching the summit, we watched the sunrise over the river below. It was truly a sight to behold.
Little did we know at that time, on that same victorious day, three years later, we would lay our Dad to rest. My Dad’s battle only lasted 180 days from diagnosis. Not once did he complain, and not once did he give in to the impending demise that inched closer to him every single day.
Despite facing all these challenges, he continued to express love, humour, respect and gratitude each and every day.
It was on that day that I decided to become the same type of man that my Dad was.
During this time, Dad spoke to me and explained that this was a time in my life, not the rest of it. He also expressed to me how important it was for me to keep getting good grades, keep playing the sports I love and keep striving to be the best man I can be.
He told me that facing every challenge with a smile is the way to get through anything.
On the day of his passing, I vowed that I wouldn’t use his name as an excuse, but rather a reason to strive, to push beyond my limits.
All in the name of carrying that torch that he handed off to my brother and I.
Still to this day, I carry that torch for him. A torch that will remain burning until my eventual passing. Only then, will I allow for the flames of his love, compassion, and determination to be passed onto another carrier.”.
This was an exert from Harrison’s 2023 Kokoda Speech. Harrys insight, compassion, courage and focus, illustrates wholeheartedly; that indeed today’s generation of young people have the capacity and the will to build the partnerships necessary for tomorrows decisions.
Building the community of Tomorrow
As the principal of the only high school in our community, I know I have a responsibility to advocate, position and make every opportunity for our future community. 96 % of Students in our Milton Ulladulla attend NSW Public Schools, this is worth celebrating. We are Finland, we provide a fantastic education to our young people no matter their gender, their culture, their religion or their parents wealth, we are privileged and it is unique. We are all invested in the common good and the prosperity of our community, we matter to each other and we care for the future of the community.
Very few students walk past our schools to attend other schools, the town and the community is judged by its schools. When the schools are doing well the community is doing well.
I have already spoken for too long… and it is here that I say.. that my staff are the very best human beings. They work tirelessly for this community and our young people.
At UHS we build great humans and that is hard to put a mark on. We pride ourselves in adding value to our students lives, the richness of experience, fostering strengths, showing compassion to those less fortunate, to sit alongside students from all backgrounds and growing life-long skills.
In the words of Martin Luther King Jr..
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.
Thank you
Denise Lofts
Principal
Presentation Night Closure and Final speech. End of the night
- People, People, People. The culture of being a great human being.
I would like to thank our most amazing Key note speaker. Kiarn R, your journey, your wisdom and your incredible insight into learning through your courage and passion filled my heart.
We are very proud of you! We wish you all the very very best in your research and your … ‘purpose’. It is inspiring. We thank you .
With that I give my sincere thanks to our schools P & C, a fantastic team who bring a deep and sincere approach to their role and the support that they provide our school. Their ongoing innovations have already been immense.
A Huge thank you to our president Katie G and your team, for your enthusiasm and energy for our school. Your advocacy, your unwavering support of our students and our school is immense. It has been a great year and your relentless courage and support is so appreciated. Thank you!
I extend my sincerest thank you and distinguished recognition of my teachers, and executive staff of committed Head Teachers, the resourceful, clever and resilient Deputy principals and our outstanding support staff who, without a doubt, all our team are the most hardworking and dedicated staff you will ever see.
A huge thank you to Amanda G, Anne M, and Presentation Day crew, your hard work to bring this significant event together is immensely appreciated. We are a privileged community to have such dedicated professionals to ensure the very best for our students and celebrate their success and achievements. A community is strong when it has great schools. We all benefit from having an outstanding educational community in our town.
I acknowledge the work of our outstanding partner primary schools. All 4 do extraordinary work.
Finally, I cannot finish without thanking my Business manager Leanne C, who is truly sensational, Leanne ensures her team, and the management of our school is first class.
Lastly, to all the generous, supportive and community minded sponsors who have given so generously to our school and our young people. Thank you for joining us tonight. I am truly thankful.
Everyday… I tell every student, every teacher and every staff member. You make a difference.
And I encourage you to tell your children, your grandchildren, your neighbours kids, any young person you know, who ever doubts their individual and meaningful place in the world….
We do not need magic to transform our world; we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already… JK Rowling.
Thank you.
Ocean_Principal-Leading Beyond the Swell 
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