1. Clarify the aims and role of the GM&B
- amend the Mission Statement if necessary
- promote the GM&B to the School and Old Boy communities by embracing social media, School
assemblies, presence at School community events and creating opportunities for students to visit the Unicorn Club. The Principal drew attention to the School’s work in harnessing a Facebook platform which could be used by GM&B - in order to align and streamline our joint efforts to assist the School community, we must clearly define our relationship, with
- the School and its staff
- School Council and its sub-committees
- the Foundation
- the Old Boy community
- to the School, we are essentially an incubator of ideas. If the outcomes are good enough for the
School to adopt, then ideally the School should take ownership – with delivery assisted by GM&B
where appropriate - we should be a repository of strategic advice available to the Principal. We need to explore,
audit and note the skills of those members willing to participate and share. The Principal sees this as an opportunity to involve the broader membership who seek a platform other than the two Forums per year. It is acknowledged that such a program needs sensitive administration – to be “called upon”, and then not used, quickly kills the desire to “give back”. A panel tasked by the Principal to address a problem or project do not need to have formal meetings imposed on them. - Living Philanthropy – just as we are a source of advice to the Principal, so equally do we have a bank of skills which can be drawn upon to assist both the School and the Old Boy community – a current example is the JLM Group Leaders and the Mentors without whom, both programs could not function. And here we draw upon the OB community not just GM&B membership.
- Lifetime Support/Engagement – this is a concept for the whole MHSOBA, the GM&B cannot go it alone. If we embrace the concept, then we position ourselves as a facilitator, first in the transition to Tertiary, then to employment, and on through the subsequent career. What can we offer?
- Junior Leadership and Mentoring – already on offer
- Financial literacy, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Resilience, assisting the School with Career nights
- the transition to Tertiary, Mental Health, CV preparation, Work experience
- networking, career opportunities within the Old Boy network
2. Integration of JLP with Mentoring, and embedding in the co-curricular program
- the Principal sees the two programs as separate but overlapping. E.g. in year 11 there are mentors appointed (buddies) for incoming Year 9s. These mentors would benefit from exposure to JLP esp. working alongside Group Leaders in the breakout sessions. In addition, the JLP Presentation event should include a segment explaining the Mentor program.
- JLP is effectively embedded already, and offers two points towards the MHS Diploma for successful participants. The success of the JLP may lead to increased demand (which we should welcome, although the Principal does not see that happening to an “out of hours” event). The Principal does not envisage offering points to mentees in the Mentoring program
- School ownership of the programs is an aim but there are currently few resources available to the Principal to implement this. However we could liaise with Student support functions within the School, with them taking an increasing administrative role, while GM&B continue to recruit and train Group Leaders and Mentors.
3. The future of the Junior Leadership Program
- the JLP is currently crammed into a five session Term 1 event. Would the School want, and be able to absorb, an expanded program?
- Ethics – respectful and productive relationships, integrity
- should the program morph into “Leadership and Growth” so as to better align itself with the
School’s aim to build life capabilities and self reliance into every student?
- Should we seek a broader involvement with MacRob?