After celebrating our centenary in 2023, this year saw us launch into our next 100 years of nurturing and inspiring learning and growth amongst the Carey community. Our ELC starters once again found their way in a new environment, while our Class of 2024 created a legacy we are all proud of. The School is looking bigger, brighter and more beautiful by the year. We have gained a new campus in Far North Queensland and we have all begun to navigate the wonders of problems of ChatGPT and advances in technology that are moving faster than we have ever seen before! Professionals have told us to plan only a term ahead – ‘innovation’, ‘creativity’, ‘adaptability’ and ‘agility’ are the words to think of as we look into the future of student needs, teaching methods and evolving resources.
As we have been winding up our year, reflecting on the growth and looking forward to what’s next, a little message and image at the entrance to the CLI caught my eye:
The plaque below the artwork, which is a relief print titled ‘Alice’, by Year 11 student Hannah, reads:
I chose to depict Alice because I wanted to acknowledge the canteen staff and celebrate the hard work that they put into providing food for us. Alice knows me by name, is always friendly and we all love her. Even though the canteen staff work for an external organisation, I wanted to celebrate that they are a valued part of the Carey community.
Our Senior School foyer holds the Carey Archibald portrait competition each year and this one above says it all. What a beautiful image and message and so lovely that our students recognise all the amazing people who belong to our community.
What I see at Carey every day is many acts of kindness and gratitude towards this amazing place: such as staff placing bunches of flowers in others’ offices or meeting places, anonymous staff who pay for others’ coffees each day as a special thanks or surprise, staff and students checking in with other staff or students and sharing positive feedback! I see staff and students leaving little notes for others with encouraging messages or congrats or thanks, students and staff bringing in treats to brighten people’s day or celebrate milestones or moments, and staff marking other staff examinations or tests when people are busy or under the pump (special thanks to my colleague for doing this for me recently!). It's these unmeasurable moments and acts that define a community. No matter the occasion or troubles encountered, I’ve always found a person’s smile, acknowledgement or act of kindness comes every day at Carey, and it always encourages others to tackle the day ahead with vigour and enthusiasm.
As we enter our Christmas holidays, let’s remember Christmas, as we know it today, is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, which happened over 2000 years ago. But one cannot talk giving and acts of kindness around Christmas without mentioning Santa Claus himself: Bishop Nicholas of Smyrna, who lived in the 4th century AD, in what is known today as Turkey. He was a very wealthy and generous man, who especially loved children, and was known to throw gifts into the houses of poor children to brighten their spirits. He was later titled Saint Nicholas, and became the patron saint of children and seafarers. From his story evolved the legend of Santa Claus – the jolly man who brings gifts to children all over the world on Christmas Eve. In England he came to be known as Father Christmas, in China he is known as Dun Che Lao Ren, which means ‘Christmas Old Man’. Many believe that the giving of gifts originates from the deeds of Bishop Nicholas.
I hope everybody has a wonderful break. As we experience at Carey every day, I encourage you all to do an act of kindness to someone in your life, and embody the spirit of generosity and care of Saint Nicholas of Smyrna.
Christian Gregory
Deputy Head of Senior School – Student Wellbeing
