The beginning of spring must be one of my favourite times of the year. The days start to get longer, the air becomes warmer, and you feel as if you are on the downhill path towards the end-of-year festivities. However, one of my favourite parts of the start of spring is the footy finals. There is a buzz of anticipation around the school at the moment as many students celebrate the Dolphins making the finals for the first time.
In our Middle School Assembly last week, I shared a story from the Penrith Panthers and how their coach helped to turn their club around. Rather than beginning with grand speeches about winning premierships, the focus was on the little things that shape a team. The way players trained, the standards they accepted from one another, how they responded when things went wrong, and the way they treated the people around them. Over time, those small choices became habits, those habits shaped their culture, and that culture helped produce sustained success. It is similar in our community.
We are blessed to have a great culture at Mueller, where every student matters every day and students can belong, contribute and thrive. However, culture is not simply something written in a handbook or spoken about at assembly. It is formed through the little actions that happen every day, often unseen. Where a student chooses kindness, shows respect to a teacher, helps a classmate, or decides to do the right thing when nobody is watching.
Jesus gave us such a fantastic example of this kind of culture. He consistently noticed the person others overlooked, welcomed those who felt they did not belong, and served others rather than seeking status for Himself. In John 13, Jesus even washed His disciples’ feet and then told them to follow His example. Jesus sets such a great example for us to follow. He demonstrates what it looks like to have a culture that is built through seemingly small acts of humility, service, courage and love. What a great example He is for us!
As we move into the final part of the year, our encouragement to our students is simple: never underestimate the little things. Every interaction is an opportunity to shape the kind of community we want to be. When hundreds of students each decide to notice others, speak with kindness, serve one another and choose what is right, those little things become something much bigger. That is how great cultures are built.
Brayden Hargrave
