Every Thursday morning before classes begin, the College Board Room, not more than ten paces from my office, comes alive. The lights are on and the air conditioning hums but it’s our 4 College Captains who are the vital force of the room. Having made their way from morning routines, we meet most Thursdays; Mr Cook, our captains and me.
In amongst meeting protocols and ways of working they fill me in on plans, activities and happenings. Questions are asked — how are you going? How is the cohort going? What plans do you have for us this week? Reports are given; Activities Committee, Community Committee, Mission Committee and Academic Committee. Feedback from these is rolled out and discussed. Decisions are made; some ideas, thoughtful and well considered are decided “for” and some ideas, highly enthusiastic though overly ambitious, are decided “against”.
This weekly meeting has been a tradition for many years now. It’s how we roll up here on The Hill. Since time immemorial, at more of these meetings that I care to mention, the term “culture’ invariably arises. Young men consistently seem to be able to express the term with abandon. They instinctively have a feeling about what it means but ask them to define it…and well…it’s a thing…it’s a feeling…it’s…a vibe.
Culture isn’t something to do with things formal or ceremonial. Culture is embedded in our everyday, in actions and habits and relationships. Behaviours that are repeated regularly become the norms that define a group’s identity. What people do regularly — how they greet each other, how they handle conflict, how they celebrate success — becomes culture.
The mantra we give to our College leaders is “what we do all the time is culture”. Things that may make no sense to others, that may seem strange or “lame” or unproductive, are part of culture because they have been given meaning through repetition and acceptance within a context. In our case, our context is of a Catholic Boys’ School in the Edmund Rice Tradition.
I say this because this year’s leaders have been successful in creating a slice of culture that fits impeccably into our house here on The Hill. For most of the year our leaders have regaled College assemblies with tales of Wayne the Wolf. He’s here! He’s there! He’s everywhere! He’s in the yard, at the footy, playing guitar with our bands. Videos of Wayne are now a much loved and indeed expected part of assembly. Wayne and his torch are new culture. Part of what we do all the time.
Culture can be intentional, shaped by leadership and values, or unintentional, formed by values and habits and routines that go unquestioned. For Eddies our culture is steeped in the values espoused in our Touchstones:
- Inspiring compassion, forgiveness and hope
- Encouraging diversity and valuing each person’s unique contribution
- Promoting personal growth, creativity and lifelong learning
- Building commitment to fairness, equity and global responsibility
Our culture is reflected in how we communicate with each other respectfully, how we make decisions thoughtfully, solve problems fairly and how we treat each other compassionately, with love. What we do regularly here on The Hill, how we greet each other, how we handle conflict, how we celebrate success — is our culture.
We aim to provide an environment in which young men, strong, kind and gentle, can make the most of their opportunities to grow spiritually, academically, socially, physically and creatively. Ideally, they will become independent of us and live their lives simply to make a difference.
Academic Awards
This week we presented academic awards to students from Years 7 to 9. Congratulations to all award recipients; their dedication and effort are commendable. We celebrate these successes with pride, recognising that the achievements of today form the foundation of greater accomplishments tomorrow. Well done, Gentlemen!
Reminder - Concerns, Complaints and Strengthening Our Community
A team working toward one end will have moments when there is agreement and hopefully not as often, disagreement. That is the nature of working closely together. Communication, as always, is the key.
Strong partnerships are essential to the success and wellbeing of our young men. It is understandable that at times there may be concerns with aspects of the College.
If you have a concern, please:
- Start with a Conversation: Often, concerns can be resolved quickly through a respectful conversation with your son’s Teacher, House Dean, Head of Department or relevant staff member.
- Formal Complaint Process: If the issue is more serious or cannot be resolved informally, you may lodge a formal complaint by emailing [email protected]
- What Happens Next: All complaints are taken seriously and dealt with according to the College Complaints Handling Policy and Guidelines
I understand that social media can be a place of support and connection for parents. However, it can also become an echo chamber, where concerns are amplified without context or resolution. I respectfully ask that families bring concerns directly to the College, so that they can be addressed constructively and fairly.
Whether it’s a suggestion, a concern or a compliment, the College is committed to working with Eddies families to ensure every young man feels safe, supported and challenged to grow. At all times, please be assured that regardless of whether we agree or disagree as a team, we remain committed to providing the best possible opportunities for our Eddies Men.
Together, we can create a culture that values respect, transparency and continuous improvement.
