“A Fish Rots from Its Head” is a well known colloquialism. Having never taken the time to actually watch a dead fish decay, I have no idea whether that is actually true or not. However, I am certain that the general meaning of that old saying is absolutely true. It is a statement about leadership. If leaders don’t lead well, organisations decay – quickly. Leadership at Shalom is crucial to how the College functions. That is something of which I am constantly aware and one of my most important roles is to choose good people to share the leadership at Shalom. Last week I was very pleased to be able to advise staff that Mrs Gail Norris will be our new Deputy Principal from 2025. We lose a lot next year with the resignation of Elizabeth Austin-Campbell who has made a profound contribution to the leadership of Shalom. I have no doubt that Gail will fill those big shoes admirably. She is a highly regarded classroom teacher and has led the development of Curriculum here for many years. She encourages students and her colleagues to be the best that they can be. My leadership at Shalom is strongly supported by the team around me who ensure that all facets of school life are focused on how best we can support the learning and personal development of every one of our young women and men. We will be advertising for a new Assistant Principal Curriculum to replace Gail very shortly. We need another great leader at Shalom.

So much to celebrate – over the last few weeks so many wonderful achievements by members of this community:

• Performance Dance teams & individuals achieving brilliantly in Adelaide
• Junior Vicki Wilson Netball team playing their socks off at State Comp
• Musicians & singers at the Qld Catholic Schools Music Festival & ‘Jazz at the Railway Hotel’ over the last two weekends
• Charlie D from Year 12 being awarded the ‘Prof Peter Doherty’ award for an outstanding STEM student in Queensland
• Rowers performing really well at last weekend’s Head of the River
• Shalom Day 2024 – just an amazing celebration of a wonderful culture at the school

This is not an exhaustive list and I’m sure I’ve left off plenty but it is indicative of so many students rising to the lead given them by an outstanding number of staff at Shalom ready to go above and beyond for the young people in their care. Not to be taken for granted.

Mr Dan McMahon
Principal
mcmahond@shalomcollege.com