As the end of the 2021 school year draws towards a close I find myself reflecting on the extraordinary year that was.

My positive outlook on life doesn’t let me dwell on the negatives for long; however, I do acknowledge the challenges that our country, our world and humanity has faced.

Across this year, many members of our school community have been challenged by adversity and obstacles, be they medical, financial or relational. I applaud your resilience, strength and grit as you have battled to overcome these obstacles and come out the other end strong and proud.

In times of adversity, we find great inner strength and we learn to accept and appreciate the help and support of those around us. That is the strength of community. That is the strength of humanity, and for that, I am grateful.

Our students never cease to amaze me. Today as I previewed the Celebration of Success video, I will admit a tear came to my eye. I saw joy, friendship, teamwork, commitment, dedication and, of course, kindness.

I saw our students achieve things they previously would have thought impossible. I saw them overcome fears and find new passions, and flourish in so many different ways. For this I say, ‘I’m proud of you’.

Our staff at Foxwell are exceptional. They continue to give and give to our students, our families and our community. They are here in the early hours of the morning preparing the school for the day ahead, and they are here late in to the evening providing a vast array of opportunities for our students.

They spend their evenings and weekends preparing exciting and engaging lessons and making sure their students have the feedback required for them to grow and reach their goals. For all of this I say ‘thank you’. 

Our parents truly are our partners in learning and flourishing. Once again this has been a complex year for parents as we responded to the changing nature of schooling. For some parents this involved home learning which meant learning a whole new skill set.

For others this was their first year parenting a teenager, or a secondary school student. I am sure you would all agree that the positive moments far outweighed those moments of challenge. We saw your efforts and we appreciate your partnership.

When we join together tonight in our Sports Performance Hall for the 2021 Celebration of Success, I ask you to take time to reflect. Our students, your children, are achieving great things!

They are demonstrating their strength and their individuality. They are growing in to fine young adults, and we feel privileged that you have trusted us to be part of your child’s life and development.

I look forward to sharing in this with you as we celebrate the world of opportunity that your child has been a part of in 2021. 

I thank our sponsors, partners, and award providers for their contribution to the Celebration of Success.

We are proud to acknowledge the achievements of the award winners, and are equally proud to to celebrate the achievements of ALL of the students of Foxwell.

Together we are great.