College leaders make a bold commitment at the Leadership Ceremony.
The Djarragun College auditorium was packed with eager students, teachers and family members on Thursday 21 March, who were all there to witness the 2024 Leadership Ceremony and meet those who would lead the cohort for the year.
Roles announced at the ceremony were College Leaders, House Captains and Boarding Captains, each playing a crucial role in the success of the college community. The College Leaders will lead by example, inspiring their peers towards personal and academic excellence. House Captains are chosen to foster unity and teamwork within their house, especially during sporting events. Boarding Captains ensure a supportive and nurturing environment for all boarding students.
These responsibilities are essential in shaping the leaders of tomorrow and creating a culture of accountability at Djarragun College.
Following a challenging selection process and careful consideration, Head of Campus Stephanie Savage proudly announced the 2024 College Leaders – Kaylene Sambo, Ricky Wayne, Galban Noble, Adrian Burns Kynuna and Quinston Watson.
These leaders were then given the honour to announce the House Captains – Shantali Connolly, Kaylene Sambo, Chloe McGilvary, Ontayah Donovan, Ava Connolly and Araluen Kyle. They also announced the Boarding Captains – Kaylene Sambo and Ricky Wayne.
These students were chosen to embody the values of Djarragun College and are poised to make a positive impact as they take on their new roles.
Kim, the Dean of the Sporting Academy of Excellence said the Leadership Ceremony was a proud moment. “Helping to guide and nominate students for House Captains is just one of my responsibilities,” she said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to interview these exceptional students, facilitate their voting process and witness the enthusiasm of both students and teachers in choosing our leaders. Seeing what these students are capable of accomplishing as leaders is truly inspiring.”
New College Captain Adrian, believes a good leader is someone who ensures the safety of everyone. Reflecting on the presentation, Adrian admitted that public speaking and speech writing were challenging. However, he took pride in conquering these obstacles. Adrian draws inspiration from his family, particularly his uncle and dad, who instilled in him the value of speaking up for yourself. His advice to fellow students is simple yet powerful: “Keep going. Though the road may get bumpy, remember there’s always light at the end of the tunnel,” Adrian said.
2024 leader Kaylene, has taken on more responsibility than most having been named College Captain, Boarding Captain and House Captain.
“I have learned that carrying multiple roles – College Leader, Boarding Captain and House Captain – requires courage, proactivity and inspiration,” she said. “My journey started with the example of my older sister being a boarding captain and the wise words of Aunt Nola, who taught me to stand up for myself, help others and never give up on my aspirations.
“Just like becoming Boarding Captain took time and perseverance, achieving any leadership role is possible by turning dreams into reality through determination and dedication. I feel like I am the big sister and the students at Djarragun College are my younger siblings. My encouragement is if there is anything you want to do or become, instead of dreaming about it, make it into a reality,” Kaylene said.
Primary Captains, Jyekiele and Dominic believe that leadership is about setting a positive example for others to follow.
“I felt nervous entering the room but quickly adapted,” Jyekiele said after the ceremony. “I’ve learned the importance of respecting others and following teachers’ instructions to succeed.”
“I am used to standing in front of others but have to admit I was a bit shy,” Dominic added. “I look up to my role models like Michael Jordan.” Jyekiele who’s role model is NRL player Xavier Coates, agreed with Dominic that role models were important and he hoped that would be good roles models for the other students too.
The Leadership Ceremony marked a significant moment as the year’s leaders walked out of the ceremony ready to take on their roles with courage and determination.