Dear Parents

Dear parents, there are certain occasions in the life of a school that invite us to pause, look back, and reflect on the journey that has brought us to where we are today. Our recent Founders’ Day celebrations were one such occasion. Over the past week, I have had the privilege of sharing in several special moments, from the unveiling of our Foundation Stone to our Founders’ Day Assembly. Along the way, I have had the opportunity to spend time with old boys, old girls, former staff, parents, and friends of Woodridge. As stories were shared and memories revisited, I found myself reflecting on a simple but profound question: What is it that has sustained Woodridge for ninety years? The answer, I believe, lies in the foundations upon which our school was built.

Psalm 127:1 reminds us: “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.”

When Mervyn and Lesley Carter established Woodridge in 1936 with just sixteen pupils, they were not simply building a school. They were establishing a vision, which was deeply rooted in Christian faith, shaped by a love for children, and grounded in the belief that education is about far more than academic achievement. Their dream was to create a place where character would be formed, where resilience would be developed through challenge and adventure, where service would be valued, and where young people would be equipped to lead lives of significance and purpose.

Ninety years later, I am struck by how much of that original vision remains visible in our community. 

Of course, much has changed. The campus has grown. New facilities have been added. Generations of pupils have passed through our gates. Yet as I watched our pupils participate in...

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