Know Your Why: Building Schools with Purpose

Recently, I had the privilege of attending the Tatachilla Lutheran College Valedictory Service—a celebration of 30 years of vision and growth. Among the many highlights was a heartfelt reflection by Harry Dewar, the founding Board Chair, who reminded us of a timeless truth: before you build, you must know your WHY.

Harry shared a pivotal moment from 1993 when architect Rob Cheesman challenged the founding team:
“I need to know what your school is meant to be about before I can begin designing.”

That question sparked deep reflection and led to the articulation of four pillars that would define Tatachilla:

Success and Excellence – A commitment to helping every student achieve their best in areas that matter most to them.
Nurture and Growth – Recognising that schools are places where young people grow intellectually, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.
Reverence and Respect – Valuing diversity, personal beliefs, and fostering an attitude of awe and inspiration.
Joy and Celebration – Creating a community where achievements are shared, kindness is fostered, and life together is celebrated.

These pillars were not just words; they became the foundation for a thriving culture and the motto “Teaching the Love of Christ.”

Why This Matters Today

As schools navigate an era of rapid change, the question of WHY remains as critical as ever. LESNW, in collaboration with A/Prof Ben Cleveland (University of Melbourne), has developed the Education Brief Template—a tool designed to help schools articulate their vision and ensure that every decision, from pedagogy to master planning, reflects that purpose.

What is the Education Brief?

It captures your school’s educational philosophy and vision.
It provides the foundation upon which the Master Plan is built.
It ensures that learning spaces—both indoor and outdoor—bring your vision to life.

The Brief includes key components such as:

School Vision & Mission – Your guiding direction.
School Story & Culture – The narrative that shapes identity.
Educational Philosophy & Framework – How learning is intended to occur.
Community Connections & Learning Environment – Partnerships and spaces that support your goals.

Importantly, this document is self-assessed annually, allowing schools to refine or even reimagine their approach to meet the evolving needs of students.

Aligning with the Lutheran Education WHY: Free to Flourish

Our WHY is not just local—it is deeply connected to the Lutheran Education vision for learning articulated in Free to Flourish, a key component of the Growing Deep framework.

Free to Flourish describes the vision for learning in Lutheran schools and identifies the attributes we seek to nurture in every learner:

Compassionate – Open to diversity, justice, and love in action.
Purposeful – Living and learning with intent, contributing to human and ecological flourishing.
Adventurous – Embracing curiosity, creativity, and courageous exploration.
Relational – Thriving in connection with God, others, and creation.

This vision calls us to create learning communities that are transformative, inclusive, and hope-filled—places where grace abounds and learners are nurtured to embrace the future with confidence. It aligns beautifully with Harry Dewar’s challenge and the pillars that shaped Tatachilla’s foundation.

The Takeaway

Harry Dewar’s story reminds us that great schools don’t start with buildings—they start with purpose. The Education Brief and Free to Flourish together provide a roadmap for articulating that purpose clearly and ensuring every aspect of your school reflects it.

Know your WHY. Live your WHY. Build your WHY.

For more information on the Education Brief and how it can support your school’s journey, contact Andrew Bradtke.