We don’t want our students to be scared about the future, rather we want them to be prepared for it. Preparing them for it is our job. We recognise that the future is uncertain. At times, that is a good, joyous and hope-filled thing. At times, it is hard and can seem hopeless. But we remain realists and purveyors of hope.

I am keen to share some principles from the Australian Psychological Society that help navigate natural disasters including bushfires. I trust that this may be of assistance for all of us as we prepare our students to face an uncertain world in a healthy manner and help them to know and manage themselves in it.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? Psalm 8:3

Last night I had the privilege of attending Onstage, the performance of exemplary student work from last year’s HSC. Murray Cunynghame, Lily Mann, Serina Nila, Ella Sexton and Frederique van Tulden, Year 12 2019, opened the show. Their piece, Operation Spooky, crackled with wit, physicality and stagecraft. Their generosity and joy on stage was remarkable, in one of the standout performances of the night. My congratulations to them all, and to Mr Owen, on producing work of the highest quality, and on being recognised for it.

We live in a society where people find it increasingly difficult to deal with disagreement. We live in a society where respect for difference seems to be harder and harder to find.