Turning Up
After a full semester at All Saints, I鈥檓 beginning to feel like I鈥檓 no longer the 'new' principal 鈥 and that feels fantastic. We stayed close to home on the Gold Coast over the holidays and were treated to some truly spectacular winter days. How lucky we are to be surrounded by such incredible beaches, bush walks and wildlife 鈥 have we all seen the whales yet? Wow.
I enjoyed precious time with my mother, who visited for the week, and with my wife and kids 鈥 a chance to slow down and reflect on what has been a very happy and busy first half of the year. As I shared with staff on Monday, my goals for Semester 2 include:
- Continuing to learn as many names as I can
- Spending more time with more students and more people across the school
- Progressing our All Saints Blueprint 2026+, our plan for the future
- Continuing 1-on-1 conversations with colleagues as I learn their stories, hopes, and dreams for our school
- Visiting the quieter corners of All Saints 鈥 the clubs, initiatives, and classrooms that may not always make headlines, but help shape the heartbeat of our school
I hope the break brought opportunities for rest and reconnection, even if only in small but meaningful moments. Between a phone full of notifications and the many responsibilities we each carry, being truly present can be a challenge. We often tell our children to slow down, to be in the moment 鈥 but as adults, it鈥檚 something we must strive to model too.
Over the holidays, our students made the most of every opportunity on offer.
We had incredible success at the Queensland Athletics State All Schools Cross Country Relays 鈥 our very first time participating in the event. Against strong competition from GPS, QGSSSA and other state-wide schools, we were thrilled to see two of our teams finish first in the state: the Girls 10 Years and Boys 8 Years teams. We also saw Girls 14 Years place second, and Boys 9 Years take bronze. All 42 athletes ran superbly. Special thanks to Ms de Casanove and our 2025 cross country coaches for their leadership and commitment.
Our Middle and Senior School ski trips ventured to Falls Creek and Perisher, our Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award students completed their Great Walk on the Sunshine Coast, and our Performing Arts students toured Europe, performing in some of the most beautiful settings in the world. From Salzburg to London, they sang, danced, and played with passion and joy, and represented All Saints with pride. Whether our students were two hours away or halfway around the world, they returned home with skills, friendships, and stories that will endure.
We also kicked off Term 3 sport with a bang, with our Middle and Senior School Girls AFL teams taking on Marymount in the QCup this week. Both matches were skillful and physical, but our girls showed resilience and determination 鈥 and came away victorious. Both teams now advance to the next round. Incredible performances and a huge congratulations to all involved.
Back on campus, we proudly celebrated NAIDOC Week. Guided by this year鈥檚 theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy, students of all ages engaged deeply with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures through story, art, music and discussion. It was uplifting to witness the genuine curiosity and respect shown by our young people 鈥 a reminder of the important role education plays in building a more inclusive and understanding future.
We also had the pleasure of welcoming several new international students on Tuesday 鈥 from Germany, Italy, Brazil, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China. What a gift it is to learn from one another, and how fortunate we are to be part of a truly global school community. We also welcome our 13 French exchange students and thank their host families for their generosity and support.
At the end of last term, staff worked together to articulate the traits and values we most want to develop in our graduates. This exercise, which will inform the first draft of our All Saints graduate profile, generated a beautiful and affirming list of 'I am' statements 鈥 designed to inspire conversations with students and families, and to give shape to the personal qualities we hope our learners carry into life beyond school. We will be sharing this with the wider community soon.
Also underway is our analysis of the recent parent, student and staff survey. I will be presenting findings to the School Council and Executive team over the next fortnight, before sharing highlights 鈥 including emerging action areas 鈥 with families in the first half of Term 3. Thank you to all who took the time to complete the survey. Your voice matters and will play a central role in shaping our school鈥檚 direction moving forward.
In assemblies this week, I introduced our theme for the term: Turning Up. It鈥檚 a phrase I love because it鈥檚 about consistency, presence, and effort 鈥 in the small moments and the big ones. When we turn up for ourselves, our friends, our school and our families 鈥 with energy, commitment and care 鈥 we build the kind of culture that lifts everyone. It鈥檚 not always easy, but it always matters.
For our Year 12s, this is your final full term of school 鈥 a milestone that brings intensity, anticipation, and emotion in equal measure. We are with you every step of the way.
And for the rest of our students, this is the space where the real learning often happens 鈥 the 'in-between' of the school year where confidence grows and habits are strengthened. Make the most of it.
Thank you to all of our parents and carers for your continued support and partnership. I鈥檓 so proud of the way our students throw themselves wholeheartedly into the opportunities on offer 鈥 and I鈥檓 equally grateful for the teachers and staff who support them every step of the way.
Here鈥檚 to a meaningful and energising Term 3.
Matt Corbett
Principal