It is always exciting for teachers when we see a child with a talent. But not every talent becomes a passion. If you have an unopened jigsaw or a dead vegetable garden, you already know that not every passion is indicative of talent.
Last year, I was fortunate enough to have Ava in my Year 10 English class, and also in my debating team. I was new to the school, but it was evident that Ava had a spark.
Ava approached me after one lesson and asked me if we had a school newspaper. As coincidence would have it, I had just been speaking to another staff member about avenues for students to express themselves authentically. Together we discussed a few ideas, considerations, guidelines, costs, general interest and we agreed to try.
What I realised later was that Ava and I are both people who ask ‘Why not?’ rather than ‘Why should I?’
Immediately Mr Gregory was executing on the fine print with his renowned eye for detail and planning. Ava assembled a team of enthusiastic student writers and editors, and after weeks of work, the first edition of Vox Scholae was published and distributed to students last Friday.
The title, Vox Scholae, means ‘student voice’. We all agree that students need to express what it is like to be part of this generation. There are so few shared spaces online and in life where it is safe for young people to voice an opinion, pose a question or poke a bit of fun at a contentious topic. Vox Scholae is a place where any student with a passion can express themselves, to one another, about what they are enjoying, fearing, loving, eating, dancing to or opining about the world as they experience it.
Through this student-led school newspaper, their words will be real and permanent and on something they can keep. The students who have the integrity and passion to express their authentic selves are to be celebrated. To see your name in ink, your drawing, your cartoon, your photo – and to be accountable for the words you use – this is what we want to encourage.
Georgina McEnroe
Senior School teacher
