Student satisfaction, graduation and leadership
Retention rates are a very strong indicator of student satisfaction especially in the area of Indigenous Education. In this context, staff at boarding were particularly impressed at the number of students who returned from school holidays on the arranged travel. It was great to witness so many students who returned with a positive frame of mind and ready to engage with their learning.
At our first assembly at boarding, we spoke of the number of staff who were new to the Northern Territory. We addressed the relationship between geography and culture and how the “build up” may affect people’s attitudes. Empathy is the value for the term, and we discussed how this may look in the type of engagements staff could expect to receive from our students to help them through each day. We spoke of welcoming smiles, asking “how are you” and genuinely checking in with peers and staff – the people of our community.
Plans are now in place to celebrate the lives of our boarding students who will be graduating this year. It's an exciting time as it will be the inaugural graduation of our international boarding students. We wish all of our boarding students well in their exams and further studies. The graduation ceremony will be filled with shared pride for many as we celebrate our students.
We are excited by the recent announcement that the current Assistant Head of Middle School Nick Eddy was recently appointed as the new Director of Boarding. Nick will begin his tenure in Week 1A of this term add we wish him all the best in this very fulfilling.
Ian Smith
Acting Director of Boarding
