Core Values into Culture-Building Action
The Forty-Year Festival was marvelous! We thank all those families who were present. I know you all had a great time. I especially want to thank the staff who organised the event, as well as all staff who attended. How much fun to see parents, children and staff together for a wonderfully informal time of fun.
The event was a recognition of the years that have already happened for MCC; and also in a way, the celebration was a prediction of the good years ahead. The school we now call ours, grew out of the work and vision of people who may not have ever considered that MCC would grow to over 1200 students… but that’s what we now are: a growing school.
It is worth thinking about why we are a growing school. It is worth being conscious of the qualities that have made this school what it is and how each of you contribute your part in forming the future of this school.
The ‘personality’ of a school is its culture. Keep in mind that culture is that set of behaviours that characterise an organisation, and culture includes those behaviours that the members themselves may not even be aware of. Culture is often demonstrated in the assumed behaviours of an organisation. There are things that people do, always do, and do sub-consciously. These unconscious behaviours are very culture-formative, and guess what …. you’re doing them! You may not know you’re doing them, but you are, and it is good. Let me explain.
Our Core Values are Community, Respect, Excellence, Passion for Teaching and Learning, and Christ-Centredness. In fact, those values in action are the very reasons that this school has flourished. And whether parents, staff and students are aware or not, when you enact these Core Values as behaviour, it consolidates that culture. Good culture.
During our fortieth festival we saw those Core Values in action. Over the past forty years, those Core Values have been put into action. The way that you can shape this school’s future by continuing to put those Core Values in action day after day.
Each Core Value has its corresponding action. It is quite simple, here they are in a chart:
| Core Value | Put into action |
| Community | Treat everyone as a valuable person |
| Respect | Respect everyone, no matter who they are |
| Excellence | Do your own personal best: – Parents at parenting – Students at studying – Staff at teaching |
| Passion for Teaching and Learning | Parents and children must partner with the teachers to optimise learning |
| Christ-Centredness | Put the teachings of Christ at the centre of all we say and do |
Doing these things will ensure that Melton Christian College remains true to its ‘personality’ into the future. We all want this school to continue to be a lovely place to learn and grow.
david gleeson, principal