The All Saints Way
Sitting among the students at our Prep to Year 2 assembly this week, I smiled as Mrs Buckley spoke to the image on the screen 鈥 our familiar I Contribute poster with its simple but powerful reminders:
- I am respectful / You are respected
- I am a learner / You are a learner
- I am safe / You are safe
She asked our youngest learners what it means to contribute to our school. Hands shot up: 鈥淧icking up rubbish.鈥 鈥淗elping our friends.鈥 鈥淭rying our best.鈥 Their answers captured the heart of what we鈥檙e striving for across the whole school, understanding that every small action shapes our shared culture.
RE-ESTABLISHING THE ALL SAINTS WAY
At the end of last term, our students and staff reflected together on the traits we鈥檙e most proud of in areas such as greetings, uniform, communication, readiness for lessons and professionalism. We called this collective work the All Saints Way.
These habits aren鈥檛 new expectations; they鈥檙e being reinforced because they matter. They鈥檙e how we show that we belong here and value one another鈥檚 efforts. While many of the everyday standards have held well, we鈥檝e noticed some drop-off in levels of
commitment 鈥 and this is our opportunity, together, to ensure the small habits that define us remain strong.
COMMITMENT AND CONTRIBUTION
Two areas where we particularly want to see improvement are:
- School camps and outdoor education programs. These experiences are central to
building resilience, team-spirit, adaptability and leadership. They鈥檙e not side events; they are integral to what makes an All Saints education. - APS Sport from Year 4 upward. Participation is expected; full engagement is part of who we are. Research shows that around one third of Australian children have asked to stop playing organised sport by age 15 (Allianz Australia).
We want our students to be players, not watchers: engaged, committed and proud of their involvement. When students attend camps and sport with genuine commitment, school and House spirit grow. I鈥檝e been meeting our new School Captains and hearing their enthusiasm for lifting our school and House spirit in 2026, from cheering on sideline teams to ensuring every camp is a full, positive participation experience. Their voices matter and they鈥檙e setting the tone.
A SHARED COMMITMENT
As we move into the rest of the year and look ahead to 2026:
- Uniform, punctuality, greeting and readiness for learning are non-negotiable.
- Full participation in APS Sport and school camps is expected and essential. These
are part of our identity, not optional extras. - Contribution counts. Whether it鈥檚 picking up litter, helping a classmate, or cheering
on your House team鈥攜ou matter, and your actions matter.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP
We鈥檙e so fortunate at All Saints to have such strong parent/carer support and high levels of engagement. Thank you for your continued commitment and for partnering with us in this work. You reinforce at home that attendance, punctuality and participation are part of character. When you encourage your child to stay the course when things are tough, you build confidence and pride. If you see barriers 鈥 cost, logistics, anxiety 鈥 please reach out early to your Head of School or Director of Sport. We will always work with you to find a way.
A NOTE TO OUR YEAR 12s
To our Year 12 students: you are doing great. The calmness, maturity and focus you鈥檝e shown during your exams has been deeply impressive. You鈥檙e almost there, and we鈥檙e all proud of you.
LOOKING AHEAD
The next few weeks will be magnificent. Our Middle School celebrations are already underway, followed by a full week of festivities for our Senior students and graduating Class of 2025 in Week 7. Then, to round out the year, Week 8 will see our Year 6 Graduation and the Junior School End of Year Celebration on the Oval, another highlight in our calendar.
So much is happening, so much fun, so much magic 鈥 and at the heart of it all is The All Saints Way: showing up, contributing fully, and taking pride in every part of our remarkable community.
Matt Corbett
Principal
