There has been a lot of talk about winning and losing recently – the 2024 Paris Olympics has a lot to do with it. When medal ceremonies and tallies are accompanied by gushing commentators (particularly if there is an Australian on the podium) every day, it is easy to convince ourselves that coming out on top is the only way to succeed.

But you and I both know that it is not.

In almost every event broadcast from Paris we have seen people pushing beyond their personal bests. and breaking new ground for their sport and their countries. They don’t have a medal hanging around their necks, but they are as much winners as those that do.

“Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve done before.”– Bonnie Blair

This week many students are taking part in the ICAS and AMC competitions, and just last week our Year 3 and Year 5 students received their NAPLAN results. These academic tests can often feel like they’re designed to find ‘the winners’ – even the media discussion of NAPLAN results (including self-described ‘leader boards’) often creates the impression that there are schools who are ‘winners’ and others who are ‘losers’. What the raw scores don’t tell you – or most often, any popular analysis you might find in the news – is the amazing progress students are making, or the way teacher’s efforts are paying off in student’s progress outside of the scope of these somewhat narrow tests.

As one of the most successful Olympic athletes of all time, Bonnie Blair could have easily said that winning is always about being first – but she didn’t. Even from the highest step of the Olympic podium she could see that truly winning means more than being on top.

As educators and as parents it’s important to remind ourselves – and the kids we love – that the real winning always comes in our children’s progress – their willingness to improve, to dream of better and take ownership of the steps it takes to move forward, and openness to helping others do the same along the way. Whether they stand on the podium or not, let’s continue to celebrate the amazing efforts and progress of our children. While not everyone can receive High Distinctions in an ICAS Science test, the almost 500 students who walk through our gates each day are certainly winners in my eyes.

Every God-born person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world’s ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4-5 (The Message)

 - Braden Blyde, Acting Deputy Principal