Acting Year 7 Pastoral Guardian

 Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

Francis of Assisi

This quote is widely attributed to St Francis of Assisi and, while there is some question as to his validity as the true source, it is a particularly appropriate message for this term.  Our Year 7 students have survived and thrived in their first term and for many life will now start to settle into the everyday routine of high school.  The excitement of beginning has passed, the shine of novelty has dulled, and this new phase in their lives is becoming a lived reality.

Doing what needs to be done day in and day out is difficult.  The daily requirements of learning can be exhausting, and it can be challenging for students, as it is for all of us, to apply themselves to the minutiae of routine.  New skills are required to navigate this phase, including focus, persistence, and resilience.  As those of us that have lived a little longer know, life is not always exciting and it can be difficult in the everyday to see the value in doing what is necessary.

But indeed there is value.  In fact it is only through doing what is necessary or ordinary that we can achieve the extraordinary or impossible.  As parents, we know that the hard work we put in with our children - the value in the daily grind of school drop-offs, packed lunches, sporting commitments, and homework - won’t be seen in the short term.  The reward for this effort will be the pride we feel when our children have grown into independent young adults.

In turn we must encourage our girls to recognise the value in approaching the ordinary in an extraordinary way, in giving their all to the daily routine.  A strong support for persistence is the development of life-long habits.  Consistency is the key to student success, and this term I would encourage you to help your children to practise self-discipline and develop the organisational habits required to support their learning.  In time they will understand that not all rewards are immediate, and that it is only through the application of effort to the ordinary tasks that they, like Francis, can achieve the extraordinary.

Conversation Starters

What are your goals for your learning this term?

How are you using your Student Planner to support your learning?

What methods are you using to keep track of your assessment?

How are you ensuring that you have everything you need for class?

Tonia Campbell