You will have noticed that in recent articles I have been reflecting on our Living Faith values; the values that we teach and promote with our students and strive to live out in our school community. Two more of our six school values are teamwork and compassion. 

Mention the words ‘compassion’ or ‘compassionate’ and who do you think of? Possibly Mother Teresa, Florence Nightingale or ‘Weary’ Dunlop. You might think of your own mother or father, or maybe a grandparent or neighbour who has often shown you kindness, gentleness or concern. Compassionate people attend to the innermost needs of others out of love and genuine concern for them as fellow humans. They exercise the ability to reach out, or to ‘walk in another’s shoes’. They may even see the face of Jesus in those around them. 

‘Spread love everywhere you go: First of all in your own house...let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.’ - Mother Teresa of Calcutta. 

At Living Faith, we believe that through a collaborative approach to teaching and learning, our students will achieve far better outcomes than if they work alone. We value and encourage teamwork. By working together, taking responsibility for their own effort, words and actions, doing their best, and interacting with each other with attitudes of respect, forgiveness and compassion, we believe each student will richly learn and grow into the person they have been created to be. 

So there you have it. Six values working together that can help each one of us learn, grow and contribute positively to our world. 

- Peter Weier, Interim Principal