(birds chirping)
(soft beat music)
– We stand at the verge of great opportunity.
Now is a time for us all to make our contribution
to a long legacy of innovation.
As one of the oldest schools in Australia,
Hutchins has been at the forefront of education
throughout its history.
We asked ourselves the question,
how do we continue to provide an inspirational education
where each boy strives to achieve his personal best
and is willing to serve his community?
To answer this question, I reached out to all of you,
our boys, family members, staff, board and alumni.
Your experiences, while varied, shared one common thread:
we are collectively striving for Hutchins to be the best
it can be.
A school that challenges and supports students
to grow in character,
for each boy to be the best version of himself
wherever his interests, talents and passions may lie.
(soft beat music)
Our opportunities are great
and we’re armed with the most powerful resources available:
The boys’ useful energy and spirit,
a committed highly skilled and dedicated staff,
a supportive community, outstanding facilities,
beautiful grounds and a culture firmly centred
on the development of character and service to others.
Our new strategy will be focussing on five key themes
to help guide us:
learning, wellbeing, sustainability, community,
and character.
Character lies at the heart of everything we do.
It has provided the compass at Hutchins for over 175 years
and continues to define who we are today.
We will expand and further develop an intentional,
comprehensive whole-school character education program
that will see our students grow in humility, courage,
respect, and kindness.
We believe our pursuit to be independent, lifelong learners,
well prepared for a changing global world,
begins in our classrooms,
in our drama, music and art studios, on our sporting fields
and in our chapel.
Our teachers hold the key to unlocking
every student’s potential.
We will advance and facilitate expertise in teaching
with diverse pedagogies.
We will enhance a whole school collegial culture
of professional growth
and teach far more than the written curriculum.
The most important work we can do at Hutchins
is to cultivate a thriving diverse, kind
and inclusive community that promotes and enhances holistic
wellbeing for all.
Our students will embrace diversity in all its forms,
by respecting and celebrating others.
Gratitude and service will continue to be an integral part
of school life.
We will be a community of environmental leaders
with a commitment to sustainability,
to protect and strengthen our environment
for this and future generations.
We’ve already begun work
towards net carbon neutral emissions
and significantly reducing waste to landfill.
Sustainability and ethical sourcing
will inform all decisions.
I’m often asked about my vision for Hutchins,
however, what I’ve described is not only my vision,
it is ours.
It has come from all of you,
through surveys, feedback, and our conversations.
I’m excited about our future
and look forward to your help
in bringing our shared aspirations to life.