Reflections

Andrew Hill Head of School

Castlecrag (above) and Middle Cove Campus Staff 2022

Things I'll Miss

As I prepare to make an exit stage left, I am making a list of all the things I’m going to miss at Glenaeon. So here, to quote My Favourite Things from Rogers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music, are a few of my favourite Glenaeon things.

The Crown of Early Childhood I’ll miss the people: My very first professional experience of Glenaeon was applying for the Class 1 position at the end of 1993. I walked into the staff room to be interviewed by the entire College of Teachers, all 18 of them, sitting in a big circle. I laugh now when we interview for positions and someone says, “don’t make the panel too big (ie more than three), it might put them off”.

It was my introduction to what I now affectionately call the People’ s Republic of Middle Cove. We have a sense of collaboration that would be the envy of those mainstream schools which over the past twenty years have realised the 21st century tide was turning in a new direction, and have collaboration as a “thing” to embrace. The people of Glenaeon remain an extraordinary group of human beings: supportive, friendly, trusting and most importantly, fun to be with. I’m going to miss them terribly.

At the Preschool and Castlecrag I’ll miss… » The enchanting world of young children and their self-directed play, creating a universe of infinite possibility » Our beautiful Kindergarten rooms, the teachers, and the unique and compelling world they create, the crown of early childhood » The Marion Mahony Griffin Hall and the living embracing space created by the interlocking geometric forms of hexagon, pentagons and triangles. At Middle Cove I’ll miss... » Our bush primary playground: endless children jumping, running, climbing and chasing » Hearing the sounds of Katherine

Arconati’s Class 6 singing every morning to start the day: it lifts my heart » The tree ferns, the creek, the mangroves, the waterfalls and

Lindsay Sherrott our guardian of the bushland » Walking into any primary classroom and being embraced by a living imagination and learning that warms and nourishes » Saying the Morning Verse with a high school Mentor group and feeling the mindful moment of solemn reverence » Chatting to Year 10 as they retreat from their lockers and head off to class in the morning » Watching the Year 10 Musical: how an entire class of 16 year olds can produce such gems of musical theatre is always mystery and a wonder » Teaching a Year 11 Main Lesson and enjoying the challenge of sparring with young minds

Lindsay Sherrott

2022 Year 12 Mystery Tour The 8:21 am bubbly sound

» The Sylvia Brose Hall, scene of so many memorable events, concerts, conferences, assemblies and shows, and its wave-like undulating ceiling » Doing my weekly gate duty in the afternoon and chatting with parents about all the important things that matter to them » Seeing our Art Therapist Julia

Byrne’s gentle but exquisite colour » The Gentle Café: seeing our café under the trees with students and teachers happily enjoying a coffee in the sunshine has been a special joy, and one that I’ll miss » Being part of the Year 12

Graduation assembly: watching a group of 18 year olds speak in unison “I look into the world…” for the last time with a powerful soul force shining through their sparkling eyes. And finally, I’ll miss the 8:21 sound

There’s one sound I really enjoy every day. The students are supervised outside Class 5 from 8 am to 8:20 am, when they’re released to walk down to the high school area. They take a minute to come down the walkway, and they pass beneath the window of my office at about 8.21 am. The sound of those bubbly voices is always a joy: this sound of young people, ready to embrace the new day, gives me a lift without fail.

It’s the sound of a new generation, ready to embrace the world, and an inspiring thing. It’s what should inspire any educator as a sacred responsibility, preparing the next generation to take on the task of guiding the planet into a better future. I’ll miss the sound, but like all my favourite things, I’ll take the memory with me and cherish it forever. 

Andrew Hill Head of School Morning Verse I look into the world In which the sun is shining, In which the stars are sparkling, In which the stones repose; Where living plants are growing, Where sentient beasts are living, And we to Spirit give, A dwelling in the soul.

I look into the soul, That lives within my being: The World Creator moves In sunlight and in soul light, In wide world space without, In soul depths here within.

To Thee, Creator Spirit, I now will turn my heart, That strength and grace and skill, For learning and for work, In me may live and grow.