Senior Leader’s Assembly Address

We welcome the St Andrews community to Week 4 of 2025. 

This is the year our year 12’s embark on the HSC journey. This year will surely be filled with stressful moments and times of self-doubt. However, we wanted to remind our year 12 cohort that this is our last year of high school. We recently had our last Swimming Carnival, and we will soon have our last Athletics Carnival, Unity Day and so on. So whilst we are all studying as much as we can and striving for our absolute best, we also want to encourage everyone to make the most of this year, and remember how far we have come, as well as how far we will go. 

For the year 11’s, this year will be your time of trialling for your HSC year, so we strongly encourage you to give it your all and make the most of the opportunities provided for you. Year 11 is a time for learning, growing and preparing yourselves for what comes ahead. The effort that you put in this year will ensure the journey to year 12 isn't as daunting and is more smooth sailing. 

Yesterday, we were fortunate enough to attend Lifted Leaders, an event hosted by CSPD. We were lucky enough to hear Bishop Vincent speak, and we would like to share some of his inspiring words regarding leadership.

Bishop Vincent stated: You are loved by others, by God. You can make a difference, you are entrusted with a mission in the world, measured by your kindness, love and acts of service. In Matthew 10:42, it reads And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not be forgotten in the kingdom and eyes of God.

The simple act of kindness and positivity is a powerful reflection of God's love in the world and something we should strive towards. 

We were also fortunate enough to hear from Deacon Adrian Gomez, who enlightened us on hope demonstrated by a holocaust survivor, Corrie Ten Boom. Corrie was a Christian during the holocaust and helped hide Jews from arrest which later led to her arrest. During this trying time, she followed this quote. “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” As we celebrate the 2025 Holy Year of Jubilee, we are encouraged to engage this year's spiritual theme of being Pilgrims' hope. Deacon Adrian explained that this is what hope is, hope is trusting an unknown future to a known God. 

So while we are all awaiting the challenges that this school year is sure to bring, I want us all to remember to trust in God, as he has a plan for us all even through trying times when we don't know what may be ahead of us.

Thank you and God Bless.

Tewodros Worku and Leila Crisafulli-Kefu

College Vice Captains