From the Head of Junior School

"Talent wins games, but teamwork win championships." Michael Jordan

What have you done as part of a team that is noteworthy? Have you sacrificed personally for the betterment of the group or to help in the accomplishment of a shared goal?

Teamwork is generally understood as the willingness of a group of people to work together to achieve a common aim. The most effective teamwork happens when individual contributors harmonise their efforts and work toward a common goal.

In a school setting, we have many teams that try to work towards common goals. Staff collaborate on year levels teams to enhance what they offer the boys. Leadership teams work together to lead the School in a common and consistent direction. The boys develop teams in the classroom, on the ovals and at break times to help them achieve academically, socially and in sports.

Earlier in the term, the Junior School boys competed against each other and against their personal goals in the Inter-House Cross Country. All boys ran wonderfully with very few walking. For some, the goal was to represent the School in the JPSSA Inter-School Cross Country event. Only the top ten boys in Year 4 and 5 got a place. One would think that being single mined about qualifying was reasonable as the opportunity to compete in JPSSA Cross Country comes only once a year. But that is not always the case. During the Year 4 race one of our boys was struggling. Two boys who were in contention for a place in the team stopped to help him, putting their place on the line. One was able to recover and be placed while the other was only able to make the reserve list. For both, it was a wonderful selfless act.

On Thursday 22 June, our JPSSA Cross Country team competed in the 2017 event. 30 boys from Year 4 to 6 ran the muddy but quick course. Only one boy was able to win his race but we, as a team, won the JPSSA Cross country title for the second straight year.

With only one winner, how did we do that? We achieved this wonderful result through team work. The boys ran their best, yes, but we won by a mere six points over Hale who looked to have many boys place higher than us. Only a team can win a championship and that his how we ran. They encouraged and supported one another. As the boys crossed the finish line, fatigued, they crossed in bunches each scoring vital points for the team. Only one boy falling behind would have cost us the championship but the team won it.

Well done to our boys, our team, for their commitment to the common goal, for their commitment to one another. They are champions.

Mr John Stewart
Head of Junior School