It’s not every week you see a tin explode in Science, a Head of College narrowly escape a uniform demerit and a student confidently announce there would be no staff pay rises. Our inaugural Golden Ticket Day had all this and more, giving staff and students plenty to laugh about and much to reflect on as our virtues came to life in new and surprising ways.

So, what was Golden Ticket Day all about? In a nutshell, it was an ‘experiment’ in role reversal where one lucky student became the Head of College for a day while Mr Koch went ‘back to school’ as a student. At its heart, the day was about exploring leadership and learning in fresh ways while putting our College virtues – compassion, courage, hope, humility and integrity – into action.

For Jasmine O of Year 10, the winner of the Golden Ticket, it was an experience she will never forget. On Friday, she stepped into the big shoes and discovered what it means to help lead a College with more than 2000 students and 270 staff. She led the staff morning tea, toured the new Bryson Building and visited classrooms, including Miss Pendlebury’s Kindergarten class, Jasmine’s very first teacher when she joined in Year 5. “The most unexpected part of my adventure was probably visiting the Bryson Building site and getting a tour of what they’ve done so far,” she said. “It was super cool to see all the work that is happening inside the building, given that we walk past it every day. Visiting the Kindergarten class was very sweet but also very funny when it came to trying to take photos. They certainly proved a challenge for the photographer, given the fact none of them wanted to sit still for a photo,” she added with a laugh.

According to Jasmine, watching Mr Koch put his feet up – quite literally – while she managed leadership responsibilities was hilarious, especially when unusual staff ‘demands’ started rolling in. “I was surprised by the number of requests I received from teachers regarding pay rises,” she said with a grin. “During a staff meeting, I wrote part of the script to address this and had to deliver the unfortunate news that there would be no pay rises, which got a laugh out of a lot of the staff.”

Mr Koch was quick to note the admiration he had for how Jasmine handled herself during the event. “The highlight of day one was seeing Jasmine address the weekly staff meeting with such confidence and engagement,” he said. “I was also really pleased to see the way students embraced Jasmine as the Head of College for a day, especially the Primary School who loved seeing Jasmine in the role, as well as her peers in Year 10. Being accepted and encouraged by your peers is often one of the scariest things about school, and they did it so well.”

On Monday, it was Mr Koch’s turn to step into Jasmine’s shoes. Donning the College uniform and slinging her school bag over his shoulder, he joined the Year 10 cohort for a full day of classes. Walking across campus, he couldn’t help but smile at the double takes and “occasional dropped jaw” from students passing by. One of the funniest reactions came when a student from Jasmine’s Mentor Group walked into their meeting and loudly asked, ‘Where is Mr Koch?’, completely missing that he was sitting right there in the room. “I was perfectly camouflaged in plain sight,” he said with a grin.

During his ‘back-to-school makeover’, Mr Koch threw himself into student life. He learnt about decomposition and combustion, asked thoughtful questions (“Isn’t hydrogen much bigger than oxygen?”) and watched a tin explode after filling it with methane, all during an interesting Science lesson with Mr Gupta. He engaged intently during a Christian Studies class, including holding the weight of Mr Burton’s hefty Bible as a physical – and symbolic – test of perseverance, and he experimented with alcohol temperatures in a fun Practical Chemistry lesson as Mr De Andrade kept a close eye on his students.

But even he couldn’t escape the College rules on the day. “The funniest moment of my time as a student was when a teacher wanted to give me a uniform demerit,” he stated. “I protested firmly, because I was very confident I was wearing the uniform very well…until the teacher pointed out that I was wearing jewellery (my wedding ring). I hadn’t considered that!”

At recess and lunch, Mr Koch joined Jasmine and her friends, enjoying the chatter and even a competitive game of handball, each experience adding something special to the event. “Jasmine was so thoughtful and considerate, both in being Head of College and making me feel welcome and comfortable when I was being a student,” he said. “The way she engaged with everyone in the College community, from the youngest Prep student to the longest-serving staff member, was exemplary. She engaged warmly and meaningfully, even though she was in a new and possibly uncomfortable situation.”

Beyond the fun, what stood out to Mr Koch was the everyday learning he saw in classrooms. “I was very pleased to see the way students were comfortable to participate in class, and generally just ‘getting on with the job’ of learning without too much fuss,” he said. “These simple but powerful habits will help them not only in learning but in life.” He also reflected that role reversal has the power to open students’ eyes, helping them see that every teacher has been in their shoes before, with the same mix of nerves, questions and challenges.

Most importantly, Golden Ticket Day was more than just about swapping roles. It was about demonstrating the College virtues and how they can have a positive impact in how you live your life each day, something Jasmine reflected on deeply after the event. “It allowed me to understand that there are always things we can do to serve in our community, whether it be a leadership role or just setting a good example for peers,” she stated. “A lot of courage is needed to step out of your comfort zone, whether it be trying out for a leadership or sports team or being Head of College for a day. But courage is something we can grow from, allowing us to confront our fears and build integrity and confidence.”

Over two days, Jasmine and Mr Koch turned the ordinary into something extraordinary. There was laughter, surprise and plenty of lessons in courage, leadership and community. As Jasmine declared, “it was a great opportunity to show leadership and to serve the College, as well as a really fun day of activities. Seeing another perspective is certainly a unique experience.” Or in Mr Koch’s words, “it was comfort-zone-defying”!

By Catherine Sanchez, Publications Officer