Whitby Sections – A great place to call home

Mrs Winnall’s speech from the opening ceremony of the Bradford gymnasium.

Today marks a defining moment in the history of Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Whitby.  This gymnasium is a statement of intent for the school, the parents and the wider community.  This building characterises the growth which has already occurred in the school and that which is to come.  It is a testament to the vision of the founders of Whitby Independent College and to the ongoing commitment of the Samuel Marsden Trust Board to continue to provide a unique educational experience. 

The land on which this building sits was of course originally part of the Duck Creek Golf Course and it is through the vision and determination of David Bradford that we sit here today.  He recognised the need for a secondary school in the rapidly growing suburb of Whitby and took what must have been an enormous leap of faith in putting his money where his mouth was.  The original Whitby Independent College provided the basis of what is now Marsden Whitby – a small school, founded on Christian values and where each student is encouraged to aim for the highest while being supported and encouraged in their own individual areas of strength and interest. 

We acknowledge David Bradford for his championing of both the school and the Whitby community and thank him for his ongoing commitment to increasing the facilities available in the local area, whilst retaining a village and community feel.  Pope John Paul II spoke about the necessity for any community to have a soul if it is to become truly a home for human beings and it is our collective responsibility to provide this particular community with that soul.  The Northern Courier of March 2003 carried a story about the new school opening in Whitby and one David Bradford was quoted as saying that “schools symbolize the neighbourhood…(A school) is one of the few structures that really bring people together...It is the most cohesive element in a community.”  I was thrilled to read that because this is exactly what Marsden Whitby is all about. 

It is apparent that the world inhabited by today’s school age students is vastly different from the one we adults in this room grew up with.  The impact of technology - at home, at school and at work – is significant and continuous.  When virtually all facets of life – work, leisure, entertainment, shopping – can be managed online, then building community relationships and partnerships is even more vital. 

To paraphrase Kofi Annan, in an age where community involvement and partnerships with society are increasingly being recognized as indispensable, there is clearly a growing potential for cooperative development and renewal.  At the heart of Marsden Whitby is the drive to increase cooperative development and community renewal and as a small school we are able to be future-thinking in our approach.  Our focus is on nurturing the potential of the individual and encouraging the development of the intellect; and also encouraging curiosity, creativity and a sense of service. 

The tradition of wider community involvement has always been strong in primary schools and we want to foster that attitude here.  We already have a marvellous Parents Association which works diligently on our behalf and a dedicated team of sports coaches and managers but now we will be looking beyond these traditional areas of input.  We have a tremendous amount of expertise amongst our parent body and in the local community – experts and trailblazers in science, technology and the arts; in tertiary education, in business and in finance. 

We will be seeking tangible ways to link your community expertise with our school community and provide students with the
opportunity of connecting education with real life experiences.  It could be your talking to a group of IT students about a business initiative; assisting with an outdoor education activity; coaching a sports team; facilitating a field trip to your place of work; helping out with a working bee – the possibilities and the benefits to everyone are limitless. 

 Today is the day we take the next step in the journey for Marsden Whitby.  As we move forward together – as a school and as a community - I look forward to working with all of you in assisting Marsden Whitby to become a strong and vital tree in the forest of the Whitby community. 

Ad summa.