Assembly celebrates top marks
By Jack Miller, Year 10, St Augustine’s College
AMERICAN author and educator John Holt once noted that: “Learning is not the product of teaching. Rather it is the product of the activity of learners.”
While he may have envisioned an alternative meaning, there’s only one message I derive: You get as much out of your teachers as you put in – just like life.
On July 19, St Augustine’s College celebrated the laudable activity of its students in its biannual Academic Awards ceremony.
Adam Takai, college liturgy captain, started the ceremony with a moving address.
He was followed by principal Brother Darren Burge, who drew on the recent cave rescue in Thailand to highlight the many praiseworthy virtues of those volunteers who assisted in the rescue operation.
Brother Darren spoke of the natural instinct of so many volunteers from various countries to help; the immense good that could be done when differences were ignored; and the incredible patience necessary to ensure that the boys and their coach would all survive and have a future. Brother Darren concluded his speech by investing these virtues into our everyday lives: “Impatience is the enemy of our own achievement, if you can’t do it on your own ask for help.”
Next on the agenda, the assembly’s main event.
Mr Lance Helms, director of studies, explained how men of Saints might achieve an academic award. Namely, these awards are given to students who obtain at least two As and nothing below a Bin their semester report.
The steady stream of Year 7 and 8 students was pleasantly interrupted by the combined St Augustine’s and St Monica’s Concert Band who, under the excellent direction of Cherie Spannenburg, produced a captivating rendition of Encanto.
The audience’s attention quickly returned, however, to Year 9, 10, 11 and 12 students who were pleased to achieve some well-earned attention for a semester’s hard work.
Special guests included Eusebio Goncalves, a recent graduate of Saints and current medical student. The former public speaking captain spoke of a student’s most valuable resource — the people around him.
An informative speech by Cairns MP Michael Healy gave the audience another insight into a successful working life and ways one can give back to the community.
This was the perfect segue into presentation of the community service awards to those students who had selflessly given their time for the wellbeing of others.
The ceremony concluded with a wrap up by Tina Nguyen of the public speaking and debating results. Ms Nguyen reported that three of the four Saints debating teams in the local competition successfully made it to the semi-finals with one junior team taking the title for the first time in 14 years.
The work and effort required to achieve one of these academic awards is truly exceptional but so is the educational process which has furthered the knowledge of every student in the school.
So let’s step up, do the hard yards and meet on stage at next year’s Academic Awards ceremony.