Developing Ethical Leaders

This year, Strathcona has formed a unique partnership with Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership. An extract from Strathcona’s 2021 Dux Leaders and Scholars Assembly Speech

This not-for-profit organisation is Monash University based and is “dedicated to strengthening wise and courageous leadership”.

Leadership in society and business, in particular, in schools, is at its most complex and challenging. We are carefully balancing the day-to-day grind created by the impact of the pandemic with the desire to grow and strengthen our community. Cranlana believe that by “sharpening critical reasoning and ethical thinking, we help high-level decision makers.”

The Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership developed a specific program tailored explicitly for Strathcona’s community. The professional development is intended to expand and encourage courageous leadership across all areas of the School, together with professional and personal integrity.

The course work is designed to build upon the valued and trusted relationships within Strathcona, reaching from and cascading to the board, senior executive, management, students and staff — extending eventually to our alumnae. During Term 2, our school board and our staff leadership team each undertook an intensive session with Cranlana that focused on ethical leadership, a reminder of the intersecting areas of accountability, virtues of good leaders and the importance of leading with integrity.

Term 3 began with a professional development day for all staff members hosted by Cranlana, examining concepts of fairness, consideration of ethical dilemmas and tests of integrity. This was followed by an interactive workshop examining our own human flaws and fragilities and the necessary ability to remain fair and objective when making decisions affecting others. Most excitingly, our Year 10 and 11 students will participate in their own ethical leadership program with Cranlana that will look at philosophy, ethics and how we can learn to “critically examine the ethical impact of actions”.

Throughout this program, Strathcona aims to inspire, engage and promote exemplary high level ethical leadership, not only within our own community but fostering exceptional future leaders for years to come. We look forward to the continued developing partnership with Cranlana and seeing its influence on our students, staff and wider community.

TRACY HERFT Deputy Principal

Dream Big

At the end of 2015, I remember visiting with my parents for Year 7 Orientation Day. What I remember from that day is walking into Featherstone Hall and seeing the banners of the four houses and the portraits of all the former Principals. Most importantly, I remember seeing the two plaques high up on the wall, one listing all the School Captains, the other all the Duces from previous years, and tiny eleven year old me thinking “Wow, wouldn’t it be amazing to have my name up there.”

The prospect of high school was foreign and quite nerve wracking to me, but seeing all the names of women who had been in my position, and who had gone on to achieve amazing things, planted a seed of possibility in me. Hearing the Dux speak each year at assembly, reminded me to dream big. Funnily enough, that has been my personal motto for many years now. Work hard, dream big. It is a reminder to aim high and always give 110%.

Looking back, I believe what worked for me was having short term aspirations that I could fulfil.

Maybe you’re in Year 7 and hoping to do your best in the first year of high school, or you’re in Year 10, just back from TC and getting ready to buckle down into your senior years, or maybe you’re where I was exactly one year ago, feeling nervous and excited as you’ve just begun your last year of secondary school. Regardless of where you are along your journey at Strathcona, no matter how big your dreams and aspirations are, break it down to the smallest unit and work upwards. It’s like constructing a building. Even the grandest of mansions begin with the first brick being laid.

Truth be told, what I did in Year 12 was not very different to what I did in Year 7. I tried to do all the homework as soon as it was set, and stay ahead on any big assignments. I made notes or went through notes given by my teacher and applied my knowledge to textbook questions or practice tests until I felt familiar and confident with the content for that topic. Only in Year 12, they’re called SACs, not tests, and there are exams to prepare for, and your grades matter to more people than just my mum stalking me on MyStrathcona.

So, in a word. Consistency. I guess you could say, that was my secret ingredient — consistently being on top of my studies. And it can be yours, too.

It’s true, the first four years of developing good study habits and working on routine was suddenly, and quite vigorously, shaken up in March 2020 by the big C. You’ve probably heard enough people talk about how unlucky my year was to have both years of VCE stuck in lockdown, so I won’t dwell on it. But it was, without a doubt, a massive challenge, and I take my hat off to all my fellow Year 12s, but, particularly my fellow high achievers, who did not only survive these past two years, but also excelled. Congratulations to you all.

Of course, I must mention my enormous gratitude and respect to all my Strathcona teachers. They not only helped me to transition into high school and make those first few years so memorable, but they had to both navigate and adapt to remote learning themselves whilst helping us do the same; continuing to support us even through our laptop screens. If that’s not dedication, then I don’t know what is. Let’s hope that we won’t have to deal with any more remote learning this year.

To all my Unit 3/4 teachers, thank you for putting up with me, and always answering my dozens of emails and messages on Teams. Moreover, thank you for getting me to where I am today; about to start my first year studying Medicine at Monash University. It truly is a dream come true and I would not be here without your unwavering support and guidance over the last couple of years.

Finally, I wish everyone at Strathcona all the very best in their studies. To this year’s Year 12s, good luck. I have every faith in each of you, and I hope you all do as well as you hope and go on to do incredible things. Look after yourselves, listen to your mind and body and take breaks when you need to. Don’t discard your hobbies and interests — because I can guarantee that, after doing an afternoon of calculus, there’s no better feeling than jamming to Harry Styles at max volume or watching a couple of episodes of your favourite Netflix show.

Never be afraid to reach out for help. And most importantly, Work Hard, Dream Big because I did.

ALYSSA YAP Dux of 2021