1 NEWSLETTER TRINITY TERM No 4/2013 Dear Parents I have, as is my normal custom at the end of term, been writing report comments for your sons on ourPencil Boxschool administrationsystem. Your son’s marks for Trinity term are recorded, as well as comments from all his teachers, and Housemaster. A photograph of your son is also displayed on my screen. As I read through the report I look at the photograph on my screen and cannot but sense all the hopes and dreams that parents and grandparents have for these you ng men. At times I am aware of how many have alrea dy suffered some of life’s challenges – illness, disappointment, divorce in the family, or loss of a family member, and have subsequently lost confidence. I also know that youn g men can be resili ent, robust and full o f confidence. The role of St John’s college is to help build in them character and hope, which will enable them to be resilient and robust. It is as families and the school work together, that we can be successf ul in shaping y our sons into fine young men. As I look at the photograp hs of all the young men as I go through the reports, it is extraordina ry to think about the possibilities for life ahead in how many more world renowned cellists, or cyclists or doctors are in the making! Recently we celebrated Chris Froome’s victory in the Tour de France,and also celebrated David Hunt’s success in winning a gold medal at the world rowing championships. Not all our boys are going to win major champio nships, but they w ill face challenges at universi ty, in business, an d in family li fe. The question is: What are those reservoirs of hope in each young person that will enable him to be robust, resilient and resolute?I am convinced that one of these is a f amily that loves him– a mother and father, a granny or grandpa, who hold him and have hi gh expectations of him, and to whom he is accounta ble. One of the key motivators ofyoung boy s is to please thei r parents. They do not want to let you d own. But even if they do, your task i s to love them unconditionally. A second motivator is a spiritual gro unding that enabl es them to have a sense of purpose that is abov e and beyond themselv es. St John’s starts each day with an act of worship, remindin g boys that their hope is in God. Our call to boys to be rightly trained in body, mind and character, to serve God in Church and State. This is a call to look beyon d our selfish interests and make a d ifference in our socie ty. I often speak to the boys about the 3G’s – grounds, grooming and greeting. They will explain that this is about litter, dress and greeting visitors to the school . But it is actually about respecting the environ ment, yourself and respe cting others. All of this is about a spiritual understanding of the world that will enable boys to be robust, resilient and resolute. We are about to conclude o ur second Wilderness Scho ol at Maretlwane. The 55 boys from Lower 4 (Grade 9) have been at Maretlwane for just over a month, and I congratulate them on finishing the course, and look forwa rd to hearing stories of their unique experience. It is this kind of testing experience that enables our boys to grow into robust, resilient and resolute young men.
