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The Principal's Report
As we look towards celebrating Founder’s Day this Friday 14 May, it is worth reflecting on our great school’s heritage and more importantly, how that history is lived out at Malvern every day. Each year on 15 May (Founder’s Day) all Lasallians honour St John Baptist de La Salle, founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and patron saint of teachers.
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This is a day to reflect on the rich history of the Lasallian mission and celebrate the man whose vision of and dedication to providing a human and Christian education to the young, especially the poor, launched the worldwide Lasallian network. The celebration is also an opportunity to honor the ministries, Brothers, and lay partners and the work they do to continue the Lasallian mission.
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Earlier this Term, I ran an induction/training seminar for new staff, where we worked through what it means to work in a Lasallian school. One key document was an extract from an article, ‘A School That is Relational.’ Central to St John Baptist de La Salle’s pedagogical thinking was that there can be no genuine educational impact without personalised knowledge. For the past 330-plus years, staff in Lasallian schools have strived to know their pupils individually. The staff at the induction identified this as central to their work at Malvern; a point of difference to other schools in which they’d worked – positive relationships are visibly supporting students.
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Another pivotal document we examined, ‘What Lasallians Value’, also generated constructive comments around how our values impact on improved educational, wellbeing and spiritual outcomes for our young men. We give priority to the "poor" - not just in a material sense, but young people who may be "poor" educationally, spiritually, emotionally, psychologically or socially. At the same time, “we enlighten minds,” “encourage each student to fulfil his potential” and “encourage inclusivity, respect and justice.”
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These extracts only scratch the surface of the traditions underpinning the model of education your sons enjoy every day. This Founder’s Day is an opportunity to give thanks for the valuable lessons which have worked so well for us for 109 years at Malvern.
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