One of the #ASCD presenters referenced this inspiring quote by Peter Senge. There is so much to unpack here.

This is why first and foremost, I love being a teacher. I am impacting children's lives for life! It's also why I value any opportunity to learn something new ...recreating myself, seeking to be a better person, but knowing that I am always enough. Learning to make change happen and to make the world a better place. #human-flourishing

From submissions from 39 countries across the globe I am delighted that my school is the recipient of an (IFIP) Global Inclusion Award 2024.

A total of 149 organisations and individuals have been recognised and celebrated across eight categories – architecture and design, corporate and business, culture, education, social impact, health, sports, leisure and tourism. A meticulous evaluation of all applications was conducted by a distinguished panel of inclusion specialists representing each of these sectors.
The aim of the awards is to:

“shine a light on the diverse inclusion challenges that the world faces and to showcase existing best practices that can guide others towards ensuring equitable access and benefits in education, employment, culture, and leisure activities worldwide”.

Claremont College is one of four Australian organisations (and one of two schools) to receive this award. Our school was nominated for the following reasons…

In our pursuit of inclusive education at Claremont, we initiated a multifaceted approach. Firstly, we transformed our learning spaces into visually appealing, inviting, and safe environments with flexible designs to align with our pedagogical model. Our classrooms include breakout spaces to support individual learning needs and to enhance group collaboration. Simultaneously, we redefined our teaching practices, introducing a collaborative teaching model that fosters a fully inclusive setting for all students. This model involves dedicated support from Learning Enrichment Teachers and Teaching and Learning Assistants working within classrooms. Despite initial resistance to not withdrawing students, we courageously persevered.

Additionally, we prioritised a full-time school counsellor who often works directly with students in their learning spaces. We also embarked on a rigorous research project which affirmed our strategic priorities, gave us confidence and informed our ongoing decision making. To address individual needs, we have developed a comprehensive process for developing Individualised Programs which encourages direct student participation and voice. Witnessing happy and flourishing children kept us grounded. Though faced with ongoing challenges, our determined commitment to inclusive education has prevailed.

Follow the link here to see the other Global Inclusion Award Winners from around the world.

As Principal I am so thrilled for Claremont to be recognised in this way. For me personally, the reason why I initially chose to become a teacher was to work in a school where students with disabilities and special needs were included in a mainstream setting. More recently, my professional experiences at Claremont have equipped me for giving back - working in India advocating for marginalised and vulnerable children, especially those with disabilities and slum kids who have limited or no access to a school and education.

For Claremont, what we have created over the past decade truly has been a team effort. I am so proud of our teachers, professional support staff and leadership team. I honour their passion, commitment and dedication to our school, and to their students. My team inspires me!

Claremont College continues to be a world leading ‘light house’ school, pointing others to the way of Jesus. We seek to be a school that serves and impacts our students, families and community, and be a place that brings light, hope and love.

Today, 2nd March 2024, marked a significant moment for me and many others, standing beside one another, in unity, with shared purpose.

We gathered for 'A National Act of Recognition' at Kurnell, Kamay Botany Bay, near the landing site of Lieutenant James Cook.  Kamay was the site of Cook’s first encounter with First Nations people, the Gweagal people, in 1770, where atrocious crimes were committed, and it is fitting that we gathered at the site where Australians recognise the truth about our shared history since colonisation.

It was an emotional and powerful moment for me, as I spoke this apology to the many First Nations peoples, elders and others, who had come from across Australia to share this important occasion together...

I am a teacher, and a Principal. I love education and learning is my passion.

I was a school student in the 1970. As a small boy sitting here in this place with my mother and father, I recall watching the enactment of Cook’s arrival. We came here to celebrate this moment in history. We were told that it was a glorious most wonderful moment. I was taught as a primary student that this happened peacefully and with the consent of First Nations peoples. I was lied to, I was taught that Cook was a hero. I was lied to. How could I have been so stupid. As a young teacher a few decades later I initially continued to teach the lies. Our history curriculum both then and for many years later perpetuated this convenient and comfortable myth. I am profoundly sorry for this.

For me I am embarrassed to say it was a Year 4 student who challenged me and said it like this….
"No body comes to your home, and enters in the front door and says to the owner, this is now my house. But quite simply this is what happen. Stolen home, stolen lands - done without consent."

I am pleased to say that our current curriculum now tells much more of the truth. I am proud to say that I work with a generation of teachers, teachers who stand with me this morning, who understand and seek to keep listening and tell the truth we are hearing today. Yet, there is still so much to do, but today is a wonderful start.

I have been a Principal of an Anglican School for 17 years. Last year I was bestowed the honour of being named 'The Australian Primary Principal of the year, 2023. I speak in this capacity today. As a leader of a Christian school I am ashamed of the past actions caused by many Christian leaders in schools across Australia. What many religious leaders did in the name of God is abhorrent and certainly does not reflect the loving God that I believe in. I acknowledge the pain and trauma caused by many schools and religious institutions and I offer my sincerest of apologies to those people, to you and your family members, your land and community who are here today.

A Declaration of Recognition
We gather at the place where our shared history began – Kamay Botany Bay.
Though we speak of untold loss and grief,
Yet also we are filled with gratitude – for what we have found in each other.
 
We see the many fair minded people who live on all these lands.
We see First Nations people who have generously shown love and forgiveness.
We see later Australians who, seeing truth, labour to make wrong things right.
 
And yet, we know that the heart of our nation is disturbed.
At the heart of our nation there lies a profound injustice – and a deep divide.
It is a divide between descendants of those who were here and those who came.
 
First Nations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, became oppressed.
On our first day of shared history, an armed attack was launched against them.
Tall ships came from the sea – and other people overran Country.
 
Belonging to Country, First Peoples were dispossessed of their homelands.
Elders looked and saw – old people displaced, no Place of belonging.
They looked and saw – language forbidden, culture, identity – all lost.
Young lives broken by inter-generational trauma - lives over before they began.
 
The time has come to recognise the truth about European arrival in this land.
The voice of First Peoples must be heard,
And the voice of all people of goodwill heard with them.

With this Declaration of Recognition we enter the Truth Telling space together.
We declare that at this place we recognise the truth – the stains on our past.
 
We publicly reject, and strongly condemn these colonising actions.
They are not acceptable to us – they were not done in our name.
 
We celebrate a truth that binds us together, the truth of our common humanity.
We commit to walking together – in our resolve to making wrong things right.  
 
Truth leads us to freedom

Beginning in 1997, 'A National Act of Recognition' has developed a simple but powerful Truth-Telling model. It involved 26 years of consulting with First Nations people where they live – on Country – in urban, regional and remote areas.  This is a joint venture designed by first and later Australians working together, with the support of local Elders and La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council. Our Truth Telling model can be found at www.actofrecognition.org.au