FROM THE ACTING HEAD OF SECONDARY

“We not Me” – The culture we choose

Last week at the Secondary School Captain’s Legacy Assembly, our leaders spoke about our school culture.  What it looks like, why it is important, and what it means to them.

At Grammar, when we talk about our culture, we are talking about how we interact with each other, how we support one another, and how we represent our school in the wider community. 

The phrase “We not Me”, has its origins at Grammar from the voices of our Year 9 students in 2014.  These words represent our aspirations to be a community built on kindness, inclusion, and respect. It speaks to the obligation of all members of our community to contribute in a way where the collective “we” is stronger than the individual “me”. 

This phrase can be seen around the school—in posters, in classrooms, and students will hear us reference it in assemblies.  But more importantly, we see it in action.

Examples include:

• On ANZAC Day, in the cold morning rain, our choir stood tall and sang at the dawn service.
• Despite the rain, hundreds of Grammar students marched—more than any other school.
• At Grammar Helping Hands and Disabled Surfers events, students give their time to lift others up.
• We see it in our classrooms – when we turn up on time, with the right equipment and with the right attitude.  Learning is a team sport.  “We not Me” is a call to action in our classrooms to demand excellence born of effort.
• We see it in the moments of care for others, when students, for no personal gain, lift others up.

“We not Me” is a call for selflessness to triumph over selfishness.  It is in these quiet moments of genuine connection as a community that we are at our best.

To achieve the destination goal of a community built on “We not Me”, our call to students is simple and based on our school rules known as “The 2 T’s”.

1. Try your hardest
2. Treat everyone well

When we live these words in our classrooms, in our friendships and our communities, we create a school and a world where everyone belongs.  Our message to our students is that when they embody these words, they can rest assured knowing they have given their best. The legacy they leave will be positive and something everyone can be proud of. 

Our School Captains conceived a gift for all secondary students as part of their presentation.  Parents will note that students are now wearing “We not Me” badges on their blazers as a tangible reminder of what it means to be part of the Grammar Community.

“We not Me” – three small words representing a big idea.  The culture we choose.

Mr Scott Mayall
Acting Head of Secondary