From the Principal
Yesterday, I was honoured to be announced as the second Principal at RJ. As my contribution to this fortnight’s edition, I would like to post my response address to our staff. I trust that in reading this short speech, that you may gain an insight into my heart for our students and staff, and my commitment to the RJ Community as we move forward to continue to write our story here in Western Sydney.
For the last four years, I have come to know God to be truly faithful in this place at RJ, and His promise to us is that He will continue to be faithful. Let’s never forget that our School was founded on a faith and trust in the Lord that has been proven over and over again, to never cease, despite good or hard times.
Today, I feel honoured and excited, yet humbled to be appointed Richard Johnson Anglican School’s second Principal. It is truly a privilege to lead a School as unique as RJ and especially in succeeding Mr Paul Cockrem, who I reminded only several weeks ago, will always be known as RJ’s Foundation Principal, a man for whom I have great admiration and respect for the work he has done in Western Sydney through the establishment of RJ as a school, supported by the teams that have worked with him.
I have a genuine commitment to Christian schooling, excellent teaching practice, learning and wellbeing of students and staff, efficient operations and well-maintained facilities as well as being inspiring role models to our students.
Three passions of mine: Innovation, Learning and Leadership, will certainly play a part in my focus as Principal as we continue to develop curriculum and our second campus. Innovation – seen as a staff willing to try new things and push the boundaries in our craft and endeavours; Learning – that we will always consider our practices to be evidence-based and willing to learn from others who seek to be better educators, administrators, and in short, better people; Leadership – that we will be known as a school that develops leaders and a school that leads in the field of Christian education here in Western Sydney.
That an RJ Education will be known as one that distinguishes our students as confident, agile, reflective and engaged 21st Century learners who are work-ready and life-ready when they graduate.
I would like to remind you of what I mentioned to you all at the start of the year… that we will continue to surround our students with the positive messages of hope in Christ and assurances of their personal value through the environment that RJ provides, to enable them to be all they can be, with confidence and an ability to serve society in a meaningful way.
Isaac Newton once said that “If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”
Similarly, if I can lead RJ further beyond its establishment phase and into a new growth and development phase, then I would have stood on the shoulders of a giant, learning from the lessons of our School’s short 24-year history and become a School that speaks into the heart and families of Western Sydney.
I commit today to being a part of this continuing story at RJ, to know a real sense of belonging, serving and succeeding. Believing in the call of God on my life to make a difference in this world for his Kingdom’s sake.
And I trust you will join with me to this end. Thank you to Rev David Mears and the School Council, for this amazing opportunity before me.
[Speech delivered to RJ Staff on Monday, 10 May @ 3:45pm]
Have a wonderful week!
Mr Alan Dawson
Principal