Eclipse House News
As Term One ends, it is a great opportunity to reflect on the past ten weeks in Eclipse. A lot has changed in the house and in the outside world. As a group of young men, I am proud to say that they have taken every change in their stride and are better for it. We are seeing greater connection in the house between year groups, friends, and staff. It is leading to a positive culture and community that I have no doubt will continue to thrive in the terms to come.
Maggie Dent is an educator and mother of four boys. Recently she has released research in a book called From Boys to Men. In the first chapter she writes a letter to a 21st century teen: ten things I want you to know. I would like to share these ten things with you and highlight two that have been present this term in Eclipse.
- Change triggers stress
- How your adolescent brain can get you in trouble
- Feeling stressed and anxious is not always a bad thing
- Please don’t listen to your inner critic voice
- Find your real life ‘spark’ and prioritise it in your life
- Find your lighthouse
- Be a good friend
- Embrace the gifts that failure can give
- Your parents really love you
- You are not your grades
5. Find your real life ‘spark’ and prioritise it in your life.
No matter what it is – being an environmental warrior, a climate activist, being competent and passionate about horse riding, painting, dancing, cooking, music, outdoor education, fishing, footy, watching other people play games on Youtube, breeding ducks, chatting with your friends, mountain bike riding, rock wall climbing, yoga, find the thing that makes you ‘spark’ and do it often. This will improve your mood, give you energy and basically improve your life.
In Eclipse, we are seeing passions like, music, 3D printing, coding, cricket, football, hockey, basketball, ping pong, shell collecting and artwork creating, plant cultivating and aquaponics, boat building and constructing, golf, rubik's cube challenging, pool, surfing, rowing, weight training, cooking, running and outdoor education. Over the course of the year, I urge all boys to follow their passion and try something new.
While girls communicate verbally, boys express their emotions and build connection through actions rather than words, seeking attachment indirectly through activities or play.
-Dr William Pollack, Real Boys (1998)
7. Be a good friend
Watching out for your friends will help you become a more caring human being. Tell your friends that you care about them often and that you have their back. When teens feel emotionally flat, they can stop connecting with their friends and the outside world and this can be a very dark place for them to be. It is always OK to ask a friend ‘are you OK?'. And that the simple act of listening, being there for them is often enough. The boys in Eclipse greatest strength is their love for others. They may not admit it, but you see it daily. There have been countless occasions where I have overheard them ask each other how things are going or are you OK. There are great friendships being formed and some continuing to grow, being on the outside and facilitating their growth is an absolute pleasure as they are all great young men.
Throughout the year, I believe all ten things will come to the surface. When they do, I will continue to share them with you.
I wish all Eclipse families a wonderful break with their sons. I look forward to welcoming them back in Term Two, energised and refreshed for another great term.
As always please feel free to contact me by phone or email. As the old African proverb states “It takes a village to raise a child”. I am available at any time.
Best wishes to Jack Carlson who celebrated his birthday recently.
Warm regards
Mr Taylor Colton | Head of Eclipse House