fbpx

Reflections with staff member, Cade Bonar

15 March 2023

partnership

In our 20th year, staff member Cade Bonar, reflects on his time at the College.

A bit of background about your career/previous jobs?

I started my career in education at Browns Plains State High School in Logan City, south of Brisbane. The Principal (Brian) and both Deputy Principals (Lyn and Alan) were the most incredible leaders, and I continue to take great inspiration from their ideals and actions. There were many challenging moments in my time at the school, but the clear vision and sense of community provided fertile ground for the development own professionalism and tailoring of my educational philosophy. I was there for just over three years, and did not intend to leave, but the lure of a leadership role in my field at St Andrew’s was an opportunity I had to explore.

I’m also very involved with the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA), having led syllabus development for Music, and continuing to engage in assessor processes, marking and standards setting. For the last 10 years now, I’ve also worked at Griffith University and the University of the Sunshine Coast as a sessional academic, lecturing, tutoring, and doing graduate assessments. It is here that I see the next generation of teachers, and continually engage with educational research and theory, which I then get to explore in my own practice at St Andrew’s.

Before all of this, to get myself through my undergraduate university degrees, I worked midnight to 8am at a service station. This did not condition me well for sleep…

Why the move to St Andrew’s, which at the time you started, was still a pretty young school.

My move to St Andrew’s was based on opportunity to take on a formal leadership role. The school was pretty ‘green’, but so was I! I remain indebted to Mrs Sue Hornum (Dr Sue Simon) for investing in me and entrusting me with Music at St Andrew’s. Not many people get the opportunity to build new programs in news schools, so I was excited that I could build with my own ideals, values and philosophy in mind and influence the culture and values of the College.

What was the most challenging part being part of a small new school?

I don’t really recall any significant challenges… the leadership team and staff of these early years were extremely passionate and driven, and we all adopted the ‘pioneering’ spirt necessary to assist the College to grow and establish the presence it did in such a short time. Everyone got in an got their hands dirty, and there was a really strong common thread uniting us. There was always so much support for new ideas, opportunities and ways of doing things, and I felt very trusted and encouraged.

Actually, Wendy Porter and I used to share a single laptop between us when we were down in F Block! How did we ever make that work…!

How has your role changed over the years?

Over the years, my role has changed from overseeing both curriculum and co-curricular music (as Director of Music), to solely focused on curriculum/classroom music (Head of Music – Curriculum). I really valued the reach of my previous role, but it simply became too much for one person. I really enjoy working in the curriculum space, in that it deals with multiple aspects of music, ways of being ‘musical’, and in that I get to work with such a range of students and their interests and styles of music.

Your proudest moment/biggest achievement during your time?

I am proud each and every year of the wonderful young people who graduate from Music, for all that they are and have become. I remember each one of them, their journey, and their successes and challenges; I feel proud in that I have contributed something to their lives, as they have mine. In terms of achievements, I would have to say that completing my doctorate while working full-time in a very involved role. This was driven by a focus on my own practice, and this line of thinking continues to inform the way I engage with my work and students each day.

Favourite memories from over the years?

I have so many wonderful memories of my time at St Andrew’s, but the first few years, complete with all of the successes and challenges faced by the then core Music team of Vanessa Herriman, Laurinda Luckman (Davidson) and Wendy Porter, as well as the unforgettable Friends of Music team (with Lindy, Charlotte, Christine and Dorothy as the foundation), as we together grew the program, are truly special.

What do you love about St Andrew’s?

I love that I get to work with staff who have vision and who are reflective and considered. I love that there are many who simultaneously respect the traditions in education and seek to be innovative and further these in new times and new contexts. Most of all, I love working with the many great young people who attend St Andrew’s; they are the reason I come in each day.

Why do you do what you do?

I guess it is all about impact; that I have the opportunity and capacity afforded to affect change in young people. I get a great amount of energy from the young people I work with, both professionally and personally, and I value being able to guide others’ interests, show them possibilities and new avenues to follow, and learn from them. This was extended to me when I was a school student, and I now have the opportunity to both pass this on to others as well as pay back those who supported me.

What do you hope for the future of St Andrew’s?

That we continue to offer a breadth of experiences and opportunities while affording depth of exploration; that we continue to value and invest in The Arts and the ways in which they support disciplined, critical, creative, and respectful minds that generate new knowledges, and connect culture and people; and that we continue to focus on people and relationships.

Anything else you’d like to share?

There are some truly exceptional people at St Andrew’s, both students and staff, and I am so encouraged by the fact that I have the opportunity to learn from them each day.

Connect with us