From Br Steve Hogan fsc
Greetings,
Marcus Aurelius once said “Because a thing is difficult for you, do not therefore suppose it to be beyond mortal power. On the contrary, if anything is possible and proper for man to do, assume that it must fall within your own capacity”. God has given all of us talents and as a Catholic Lasallian school it is our duty to inspire students at Oakhill College to aspire to greatness – to be the best that they can be in all aspects of their lives. To ‘let their light shine’, any less is denying the possibilities of creation itself. Whether it be the upcoming HSC Trial exams or classwork and assignments, the Allwell or NAPLAN assessments, rugby, dance or drama, the service of others, or as a Lasallian Youth Leader, the smile as we enter the door, the honesty and respect we show to others, we are to do to the best of our ability.
On Friday 29th May at the College Assembly, we recognised several hundred students in academics, sport, dance, drama and in co-curricular activities for their hard work, dedication, diligence and commitment – students at Oakhill College doing all things to the best of their ability.
I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my thanks and appreciation to all the wonderful parents who contributed with items and/or with their generosity of time at the Gala Day on Saturday 30th May. Approximately $90,000 gross was raised for extra resources for students. All research shows that parental engagement in school in whatever form correlates strongly with higher levels of academic achievement and personal success of their children. Parents being parents to the best of their ability.
In 2017, I wrote “We are all well aware that AI is bringing a tsunami of change. Today’s students will be the implementers of robotics, the Age where robots will work and walk alongside humans. I believe we need to prepare students for this most fundamental shift known as the ‘4th Industrial Revolution’, a new and emerging epoch, and ensure the survival of what is essentially human - compassion, empathy, civility, honesty, trust and respect. For this, we need to develop leaders of the future; confident, articulate, collaborative men and women”. Little did we know that it would come so quickly as we are now in the midst of the AI revolution and are already working with robots. This past month many commentators have raised caution and concern about the impact AI may have on humanity not the least on employment but also on the state of a values-based society predicted in institutions and expressed in traditions such as faith-based traditions. Mr Scanlon (Academic Head of Religious Education) wrote a summary of Pope Leo’s encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, in the last Newsletter on Friday 29th May. I encourage you to read it if not already.
The Forbes magazine defines leadership as “a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task", or in its ontological form, a leader is someone who gets people to realise their own future. I describe this more simply and metaphorically as someone who plants seeds (ideas) and helps them grow (service). Leaders are people who do stuff and make stuff happen – a process of social influence.
Leadership that inspires and enables others to improve their lives is to be encouraged as it is a catalyst for improvement and growth. Quality, service oriented, and entrepreneurial leadership doesn’t just happen. Leadership that moves a situation from good to better to best will happen more effectively when it is nurtured. This is a fundamental human attribute and which we must maintain within our curriculum and co-curricular experience here at Oakhill College if we are to provide a lens on AI.
For Reflection:
Kindness, I believe is underestimated – simple small acts of kindness can have a huge impact on our own mental wellbeing and that of others. Simply put, be kind to one another in thought, deed and action. At Oakhill College we try to model and encourage simple acts of kindness (being kind to one another): kindness that is inclusive; kindness that is respectful; kindness that is accepting; kindness that is empowering. Kindness is one of those virtues that is essentially human and beyond the realm of AI.
Br Steve Hogan fsc
Principal
