Current Edition | Term 1, Week 9

A Tale of Two Stories

On Thursday night, we celebrated our inaugural Rite Journey: Call and Departure ceremony with our Year 9 students and families. One of the primary functions of rituals is to provide a structured path for young boys to navigate the complexities of life. They serve as signposts, offering a sense of direction during a time when the journey toward maturity can be both thrilling and overwhelming. These rituals often involve a series of challenges and tests, designed not to break down the individual, but to help him break through to a discovery of his own strength, resilience, and capabilities. While we won’t be embarking on physical challenges in our Rite Journey program, we will be challenging these young men on the values they want to embed into their lives.

This is a huge task and won’t be completed in a year, but rather will lay the foundations to be built upon. The ritual is named The Call and The Departure for a reason. Following Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, where "The Call" represents the moment a hero is summoned to an adventure, and "The Departure" signifies their decision to leave their ordinary world, this evening marks the moment our young boys are called to step forward, embrace new challenges, and embark on their journey of growth. Just like the heroes in great stories, they stand at the threshold of adventure, leaving behind the familiar as they step into new opportunities, guided by courage, curiosity, and purpose.

So, what goes into making a night like the Call and Departure ceremony? Indulge me as I share a tale of two stories.

Person A
This student arrived at the college on Thursday morning. He helped his House Mentor set up for homeroom and ran a few activities with his homeroom, themed around our Harmony Week, to engage and inform his peers of the purposes behind cultural solidarity. He then sat in his Science class, taking notes and helping some of his peers understand the new concepts around the classification of rocks, which were difficult to comprehend. At morning tea, he met with his Head of House to begin preparing for next week’s House Assembly, as his role as Middle School Leader requires him to plan and design engaging stories for his House. During his second period, he volunteered in his Rite Journey class to help his teacher by ensuring all students had written their gratitude letters and that these were delivered to the Faith in Action Office, ready for the evening event. During English, he continued with the complexities of middle school assessments, drafting his essay busily, and proofreading his work as we went. He managed to spend time at lunch break with his peers, resting before closing out the school day with Humanities, focusing on the Greco-Persian Wars and completing his assessment task.

At 3pm, his day was not finished. Rather, in the company of his Year 9 peers, he sat in the Theatre, hearing from 2022 College Captain Lachlan Rolls share his Lauries Journey, with the key takeaway that “90% of leadership is what happens behind closed doors—we never see the hard work that goes into things.” He was asked at the end to deliver a vote of thanks and did so with confidence and conviction. He then participated in the Call and Departure ritual, enjoying the sacred moment with his parents. At the end of the event, unbeknownst to the rest of the school, he offered to help pack up. At 7 p.m., approximately an hour after the conclusion of the event, he could be seen back in ERPAC, resetting the floor to the exam setup. This entailed moving a cohort size of 280 desks and chairs into rows, so that the next morning the Year 11 Maths Exam could occur on time. When offered a gift voucher for his efforts, his response was, “No sire, this is just what we do!” This is Adam Pryer, a student who exemplifies service, leadership, and community spirit.

Person B
This staff member started his Thursday morning with a deep commitment to his students’ success. Arriving early to mark a set of drafts, he made sure that each student received thoughtful and constructive feedback. He then facilitated homeroom, with the support of his student leader, to present information on Harmony Week. Throughout the day, he taught four lessons—Year 6 Art, Rite Journey, Year 5 Art, and Year 10 Visual Art in Practice—each time prioritizing his students’ learning and engagement. During his lunch breaks, he worked diligently to finish marking, ensuring he balanced his responsibilities while still taking a moment to rest and recharge.

At 3pm, he joined his Year 9 Rite Journey students on the Westcourt Deck, making sure they were well-fed with a BBQ dinner before supervising them during the guest speaker presentation. He then participated in the Rite Journey Call and Departure Ceremony, ensuring that it was a meaningful and reflective conclusion for his group. Similar to Adam, he offered his help without being asked, staying after the event to assist with the pack-up at ERPAC. He worked tirelessly, removing signs and setting up the room for the next day’s exam. His name is Mr. James Hanlon, a staff member who embodies service, dedication, and selflessness in everything he does.

Both Adam and Mr. Hanlon exemplify the qualities of servant leadership that are deeply valued within the Lauries community. Their actions reflect a commitment to others, where service is not just an act but a way of life. They show us that leadership is not about recognition but about contributing selflessly for the benefit of the community. Their willingness to go above and beyond—whether it’s Adam assisting peers with difficult class concepts or Mr. Hanlon staying after hours to help with event logistics—demonstrates the spirit of service that is at the heart of what we strive for at Lauries. The best part of these stories is that they are not unique to just Adam and Mr. Hanlon—many students and staff here consistently give their time and effort to support others, quietly and humbly, without expectation of reward. This selflessness and dedication to the well-being of others is the true essence of leadership in our community. This is the Rite Journey, and indeed, the Lauries Journey personified. 

Live Jesus in our Hearts; Forever.