Leadership at Korowa isn’t a badge or a title. It’s a practice. A mindset. A way of showing up for others. That’s why the 2026 Senior School Leaders briefing day exists. It’s the moment where our 2026 student leaders step into a room not simply to receive instructions, but to explore the weight, privilege and possibility of the year ahead.
Led by Head of Year 12 for 2026, Mr Furman, and joined by Principal Mrs Booth, the session set out to show our students what good leadership looks like, then invite them to imagine what it could look like for them.
Understanding the heart of leadership
We start by discussing with our students the qualities that define leaders worth following. Conviction. Strength. Authenticity. Courage. Resilience. Mrs Booth asked the group to name the leaders they admire and why. They acknowledged individuals who stand firm in their values. People who act with integrity. People who champion what is right and bring others along with them.This matters because students rarely get the chance to slow down and articulate what they value in leadership. By naming it, the students start recognising the same potential in themselves. They also see the gaps and opportunities. They begin to understand that leadership is a continual stretch, not a finished product.
Listening to our student leaders hopes for their cohort
Leadership at Korowa is always a two-way conversation. We listen as much as we guide. Throughout the session, our students shared what they want for their cohort and for themselves as leaders. Our student leaders spoke about being approachable, reliable and genuinely present for their peers. They want a Year 12 experience that feels uplifting, inclusive and connected.
The discussions were honest about the road ahead. Some days will be hard. Asking for help will be essential. No tough moment lasts forever, and each new day offers another opportunity to lead with greater clarity and compassion.
These shared insights will shape their mission statement for 2026. Not a slogan, but a promise. A commitment they will formally give to the School at the beginning of next year.
Building our student leaders to lead well
The briefing day also equips our students with a practical starting point. Meeting with their Domain Leaders, our 2026 leaders began developing ideas for the year ahead, drawing on what they learned from 2025. They reflected on past events, discussed what could evolve and explored new opportunities to strengthen connection across the cohort.
This collaborative process matters. Working alongside staff and fellow leaders, they challenged assumptions, tested ideas and mapped out how their leadership could positively shape the student experience. They leaned on one another, recognising the different strengths within the group: the creative thinkers, the organisers, the steady voices who turn ideas into action. Together, they began building the foundations for a year that feels meaningful for everyone.
What our student leaders take away
By the end of the day our students have built a shared vocabulary for leadership, a sense of collective ambition and a stronger understanding of the responsibility they’re stepping into. They saw that leadership isn’t about standing apart; it’s about stepping up. Showing courage. Supporting peers. Working together to shape a Year 12 experience that lifts the whole cohort.
Their conversations with staff and peers reinforce that they won’t be doing this alone. Leading in 2026 will call for collaboration, empathy and ethical decision-making. It will invite them to listen deeply, act with integrity and inspire others through their example. And that influence won’t stop with their own year level. As the most senior students in the School, they will also set the tone for younger year levels in the Senior School, modelling the mindset, kindness and confidence they hope to see echoed through the corridors next year.
This early groundwork matters. Leadership doesn’t begin on the first day of Year 12. It starts now, in moments like this, when our students witness strong leadership in action and feel empowered to shape their own approach. When they are trusted with real responsibility, they rise to meet it.
