Principal's Reflection - 6 March

Taking Opportunities

Each year, our School produces a report to Synod, effectively the AGM of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland. There are many required elements of the report, and one of them is an indication of significant contributions and achievements that students have made. Each year, I can only provide a sample of what our students have participated in, because if I tried to list them all, the report would go on forever. 

In choosing the sample of activities and achievements to mention, I try to make it representative of the many and varied interests of the students: academic, service, cultural, sporting and entrepreneurial. One thing I have always loved about a St Luke’s education is that while we focus on the intellect, we are committed to a broader definition of education. In turn, this means St Luke’s provides all manner of activities for students to be involved in. Not only do these activities provide learning opportunities that don’t necessarily exist within the classroom, but they are often the things that provide balance, promote wellbeing and connection, and are the things that students look back on with joy once their school days are long gone. When I talk with past students, they tend to have positive recollections about two things. The first is staff who have had a long lasting impact on their lives or who made a significant difference for them while they were at school. The second is the musical they were in, the time they made the QISSN team, playing Chess with their friends, the international service tour, or many other things that started with saying “yes” to an opportunity. 

As the former Head of Middle School, I could point to a significant number of times when joining a team, club, or group made all the difference to a student. There is an innate human desire for connection, and the opportunities available to students at St Luke’s often provide it. If your child has not yet taken up something outside of the classroom, I sincerely encourage them to do so. There is a good chance it will be one of the things they remember most about school 20 years from now. 

Uniform Feedback

Families should by now be aware of the School’s desire to update the House uniform. We have received the first physical samples, which I have taken to Primary and Middle/Senior Assembly in the past two weeks. In the coming weeks, we will start the process of gathering feedback from students, parents and guardians, and staff. The first of these opportunities will be a series of polls to gather ideas about significant design ideas: the House emblem, positioning and patterns. Parents and guardians will be able to respond to the polls in the private Parent Facebook groups, and students will receive them via email. During Term 2, the School will schedule some in-person feedback sessions through the student representative council, student focus groups, and parent/guardian connect meetings. 

Bundaberg District Sport Trials

With the 2026 sporting season underway, dates for Bundaberg District Sport Trials have been announced. Details of trials are shared directly with students via our Daily Notices. Parents can view these notices via the Parent Orbit App by navigating to the 'Calendar' tab and selecting 'Daily Notices'.

We recommend that sporting parents follow the Bundaberg District and Wide Bay Sport Facebook pages for the latest information.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our School.

Mr Matthew Hughes

Principal