CBC Fremantle Journey document

The CBC Journey

FROM TODAY’S BOY TO TOMORROW’S GENTLEMAN

The CBC gentleman

“I SEE NO VALUE IN A CENTRE OF LEARNING WHICH CHURNS OUT NUMEROUS SCHOOL LEAVERS EACH YEAR AND IS PASSIVELY PART OF A SOCIETY TORN APART BY DIVISION... OUR SCHOOLS EXIST TO CHALLENGE POPULAR BELIEFS AND DOMINANT CULTURAL VALUES, TO ASK THE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS, TO LOOK AT LIFE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE MINORITY, THE VICTIM, THE OUTCAST AND THE STRANGER.” BR PHILIP PINTO

Our strength and effectiveness as a College depends on the home and school combining to deliver a consistent message to each boy about what it means to develop as a good young man. Our graduates should be distinguished by the following characteristics:

Tomorrow’s gentleman forms attitudes and actions based on Gospel values. We believe that Gospel values are immutable, may be embraced equally by people of all faiths and should underpin the relationships between all members of our community. Critical to the achievement of this vision is a shared understanding and acceptance of the specific values which we uphold, requiring these values to be explicitly expressed, consistently applied and unapologetically promoted.

Tomorrow’s gentleman strives to be his best and understands the inherent value of doing so. The quest for personal excellence is an admirable aspiration which is widely employed as an ideal in many schools. At CBC Fremantle, we introduce a further refining concept which has far reaching implications and offers greater challenge around this ideal. We adopt the mantra that once a boy offers his best in any field of endeavour, it is always good enough. This cultural belief necessitates that every activity conducted at the College must be differentiated to

such an extent that every student enjoys success if they provide their best effort.

Tomorrow’s gentleman is accountable, resilient and prepared to face and overcome challenges. At CBC Fremantle we ask all parents to love their sons unconditionally and to support the school in keeping them accountable for their actions. We acknowledge that this can be a delicate balance but it is critical to the establishment of the essential coping techniques which are characteristic of the well-formed young adult. It is only through learning that they must accept responsibility for their shortcomings and that being accountable builds resilience, that our young men will be prepared to successfully cope with the more complex challenges of adulthood.

Tomorrow’s gentleman is selfless by nature and able to form positive, mutually-beneficial relationships. Many of the strong influences in the life of an adolescent (media, music, peers) attempt to position the young person as the ‘centre of the world’. In an attempt to promote consumerism and the accompanying materialistic focus, the message is promulgated that the path to happiness lies in prioritising ‘self’. The Christian message which forms the foundation of our school’s philosophy could not be more diametrically opposed. It presents

the truth that the only lasting happiness one will find, and the only enduring sense of purpose one can attain, is derived from what is done for others, and not for oneself.

Tomorrow’s gentleman recognises and values the ‘other’ in his life. At CBC Fremantle we believe that God often comes to each of us disguised as the stranger in our lives. This ‘other’ can be the stranger in the sense that they are not personally known to us or they can be the person who offers us the greatest challenge to our beliefs. The stranger is likely to be the individual who challenges our values and forces us to reconsider our actions. Although this ‘stranger’ can often have an unsettling effect upon us, they also represent significant opportunities for growth. An inclusive community is not characterised by a totally like-minded cohort.

How we live the journey

“THANKS TO FAITH WE HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE DIGNITY OF EACH PERSON. FAITH SHEDS LIGHT ON EVERY HUMAN RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE IT IS BORN OF LOVE AND REFLECTS GOD’S OWN LOVE.”

POPE FRANCIS ENCYCLICAL LETTER LUMEN FIDEI

At CBC Fremantle we embark on a shared journey with the families of the College in the development of their sons from today’s boys into the gentlemen of tomorrow. The CBC journey is carefully planned in a rites of passage context to foster a sense of belonging, achievement and purpose in each young man as he transitions from a child’s way of thinking into an adult psychology.

Critical to this development is the inclusive culture of the College where every boy is supported to reach his own personal level of excellence and discover a sense of identity and worth. With Gospel Values at the centre of everything we do, our young men are inspired to seek God and express their love in service and a life of active faith. They are challenged to be independent thinkers and encouraged to distinguish what is true and what is false so they can build a future that is concerned with human dignity and care for our environment. We understand that the quality of relationships is critically important in the lives and education of our boys. To fully develop into a CBC gentleman, it is essential that everyone they encounter at school has an interest in their growth beyond their capabilities as a student. The College unites with families to provide a clear and consistent message of what is required to be a good young man, and celebrates and honours every step of their journey from today’s boys into tomorrow’s gentlemen.

A CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE EDMUND RICE TRADITION

Today’s boys... ...tomorrow’s gentlemen

Liberating Learning on the journey

As a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition, CBC Fremantle embraces the four guiding Touchstones of the Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) charter. The Touchstones perpetuate the legacy of Blessed Edmund Rice, capture the character and culture of EREA schools, and challenge the staff, leaders, students and families to be faithful to this ethos.

Liberating Education – We open hearts and minds, through quality teaching and learning experiences, so that through critical reflection and engagement each person is hope-filled and free to build a better world for all.

Gospel Spirituality – We invite all people into the story of Jesus and strive to make his message of compassion, justice and peace a living reality within our community.

Inclusive Community – Our community is accepting and welcoming, fostering right relationships and committed to the common good.

Justice and Solidarity – We are committed to justice and peace for all, grounded in a spirituality of action and reflection that calls us to stand in solidarity with those who are marginalised and the Earth itself.

At CBC Fremantle we foster a culture of academic excellence with the understanding that study alone does not prepare boys for the future. Whether he is aiming for university, TAFE, an apprenticeship or the workplace, the student’s learning journey is reflected in the development of the CBC gentleman. He is guided to establish sound academic behaviours, provided with opportunities to excel, and encouraged to be responsible and accountable for his own achievements.

Liberating Learning at CBC enables every young man to achieve his best so that he is well-equipped to make a difference in the world. The curriculum

at the College seeks to be inclusive and inspiring, enabling every student to be continually challenged at a level appropriate to his own learning journey.

At CBC, boys are celebrated for their gifts and talents, and provided with support to unlock their potential. We recognise and develop every student’s ability to influence his own learning and achieve his best. An education at CBC is based on Gospel Values, and forms critical and creative thinkers who seek ways to make the world a better place.

Pastoral Care on the journey

At CBC, we support each boy at every stage on his journey, and ensure our College is safe and inclusive for all. We have intentionally chosen a path that inspires love and service, developing intelligent and compassionate leaders of tomorrow. Through a rites of passage context, our deep understanding of how boys develop into good young men underpins Pastoral Care throughout the College and supports our students to rise to the challenge of being a CBC gentleman.

At CBC, we have a vertical House system, providing quality of care and opportunities for boys to develop strong relationships

with their Mentor teacher and other students. All members of our community are called to support the development of the boy into the gentleman of tomorrow, committing to their emotional nourishment and ensuring each student thrives. We are an inclusive community that invites all to be enriched by the teachings of Jesus Christ and to contribute to a better world. The partnership between the College and home is imperative to our mission, as a consistent message ensures a solid foundation for the developing boys to grow into confident, resilient and loving adults.

CBC Fremantle’s community is accepting and welcoming, fostering positive relationships and committed to the common good.

Touchstones on the journey