Vision

What is your vision? What are your dreams, hopes and ambitions?

Successful people invariably started with vision. Most still have one. Excellence is never an accident. Successful companies habitually begin with a vision. It is vision activated that drives companies into being household names –

Amazon:
To be the Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover

anything they might want to buy online at the lowest possible prices.

PayPal:
To build the Web’s most convenient, secure, cost-effective payment solution.

Google:
To organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

Starbucks:
To be the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our

uncompromising principles.

Red Cross:
To prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilising the

power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

Sony:
To inspire and fulfill your curiosity.

Coca-Cola:
To refresh the world. To inspire moments of optimism and happiness. To create value and make a difference.

Some companies, like ours, have an Earthly imperative coupled with an unearthly mission.

World Vision:
To follow our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Wollondilly Anglican College:
To provide a disciplined, caring, learning community where

students and staff pursue excellence and lives are transformed For Christ’s Glory.

Our vision in 2003 when the College Council gathered to start the College is still our vision today.

There are five distinct characteristics of the College (Distintives) that serve to effect that vision.

1. Christian Education: Staff here believe that God loves them and has a purpose for their lives; just as God loves each of the children who learn here, and has a purpose for each of them too.
2. The Pursuit of Excellence: Students are encouraged to pursue their very best (personal excellence) and to strive to be leaders in their fields, academic, sporting, creative (benchmark excellence).
3. Pride in belonging: A reflection of their gratitude for opportunities given and the encouragement  of peers to be likewise rather than pretention.
4. Building Community: To be responsible members of our College, Broader Wollondilly, Australian  and International community. To be “we” thinkers rather than “me” thinkers.
5. A Second Education: Our students’ future lives; their virtues, morals, ethics, standards and character  will be a product of their parents, College and peers. A quality Pastoral Care scaffold  creates the environment for positive character traits to be developed and reinforced.

At a conference in 2004, Mr. John Lambert AM, former Director of the Board of Studies, NSW, mentor and friend, outlined the seven essential features that people were looking for in an Anglican school: Academic results, an educated person (student), Christian values, pastoral care and discipline, accessible fees, inspiring leadership and excellent teaching. It was helpful to us to check our vision against such a list.

Do you have a vision? Are you making the most of being at a College where there is opportunity and encouragement? If the answer is no – then make a choice to make a difference. There is an easy way through life that avoids disappointment but never amounts to anything. In the end, and all too late, it produces frustration and regret. Be warned ….

Those who aim at nothing will hit the target every time.