From the desk of Mr Nick Clogg: College Academic Head
The first term has started off at a frenetic pace which does not appear to subside – it is hard to believe that half-term is already upon us. Yet amidst this frenetic pace, there is always one thing I look forward to: the interviewing process for all the Grade 7s wanting to enrol at St David’s in 2018. It is a privilege listening to these young men from all our feeder schools; they have an innocent manner in which they express their opinions on a variety of different questions, and still, virtually always their intuition never ceases to amaze me. During this process, I am always ‘forced’ into reminding myself of the wonders of this institution: it is an opportunity for us to reflect, through the eyes of the potential Grade 8s of 2018, on where we are as an educational institution. In most cases we remain an institution of choice because first and foremost, our Marist values resonate with many of the interviewees and their families. This coupled with our own powerful sense of family and the numerous opportunities available to all who wish to take advantage of these, create a significant attraction towards the College. Too often, however, we, as custodians of St David’s, fall into the trap of focusing on our flaws and missing all that is so good. I wish I could record some of the interviews I have experienced thus far just to showcase how ‘good’ we are seen to be through the eyes of the boys being interviewed, and how desperate they are to become part of our community. On occasion, maybe we do become blind to all the ‘good’ that surrounds us daily, and we tend to ‘forget’ how lucky we all are to share in the many wonderful experiences on offer at St David’s?