Principal's Reflection - 4 September

A Visit by Dr Beth-Sarah Wright

We were extremely fortunate to host Dr Beth-Sarah Wright this past week, as part of her residency with the Anglican Schools Commission. Author of several books, Dr Wright is a former professor at New York University and Spelman College and currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine. She holds degrees from Princeton University, the University of Cambridge, and New York University.

Last Friday, a number of students had the opportunity to participate in a Student Forum with Dr Wright, along with students from Matthew Flinders Anglican College and St Andrew’s Anglican College. It was an amazing experience, and probably the best part was the trip back to Bundaberg, with Dr Wright travelling with us. During the trip, students had the chance to ask whatever questions were on their minds. It was perhaps the most thought-provoking bus ride I have ever been on. 

As part of the Student Forum, Dr Wright offered an opportunity and presented a challenge. She told students, “Because you are a part of this community, you have the power to make the community what you want it to be.” The challenge she described to students came in the form of a quote from Alice Walker: “Look closely at the present you’re constructing. It should look like the future you are dreaming.” When I spoke with Middle and Senior students at assembly this week, I shared some of this message with them. I reminded them that the School exists for them, and through their words and actions they have an incredible ability to shape the School’s culture. I asked them to consider two questions: what they want it to be and how they could influence it.

On Monday, it was our staff’s turn to work with Dr Wright, and we spent time considering whether what we say about St Luke’s matches the experience people have of our School. Generally speaking, the answer was yes, but we are always looking to improve in line with our Strategic Intent and underlying Anglican Identity. Dr Wright’s DIGNITY framework provides a mechanism which we can work from. While the DIGNITY framework is a specific set of actions to work through, it is also grounded in the knowledge that every person has inherent dignity simply by being human. It can’t be bestowed or taken away; it can’t be reduced by certain actions, but it can be not seen.  Dr Wright offers a vision of a future where everyone, everywhere can see and value the dignity of every single person. Can you imagine what a world like that would look like?

Invitation to a World Record Attempt!

Members of the St Luke’s community have been invited by SSS Strawberries to be part of a Guinness World Records™ Official Attempt. The attempt is part of Australia’s Biggest Strawberry Pick’n Day on Saturday 19 September 2026 at the SSS Strawberries Farm, Oakwood. Interested families can find more information on the SSS Strawberries website.