Weekes' Weekly News

Dear Sacred Heart Kew Families,

Sometimes people refer to me as a ‘child’, and you know what, it doesn’t actually faze me too much. I think that we should all channel our inner child whenever we get a chance…

Back when I was considered an ‘actual’ age specific child, I had many hobbies and interests. One of these was flying kites. For my 10th birthday I received not one, not two, but three kites from different, but generous people on my special day. It must have been a popular choice back in 1992. I can still picture them and remember the joy they brought me. One was a green Taipan snake kite (arch shaped) with a very long tail. Another was an Australian flag box kite, with the 4 white sticks and the longest string in history. The third one was a multicoloured traditional Diamond shaped kite. 

I was lucky enough to have large open green spaces to fly all these kites, as our house backed on to the back of a local High School oval. All I had to do was jump the fence and I was off. I would spend hours and hours flying my kite out on the oval, by myself, with my Dad, and with my friends (when the control freak in me allowed them to have a go). For a few months after my birthday, my leather football looked quite lonely and deflated at the front door.  

As I reflect on this simple childhood delight of flying kites, I couldn’t help but think of the steps involved: opening the kite from its package, assembling it (yes, back then I used to read the instructions), and finally, getting to the oval as quickly as I could. The next problem was, to try and work out how to get the kite up in the air. How does one do that? 

To me, flying a kite is a beautiful metaphor for learning. The kite doesn’t just spring up into the sky all by itself. Similar to learning, it doesn’t just happen! 

When you first launch a kite, it rarely soars immediately. It dips, wobbles, and sometimes even crashes. In many ways, this reminds me of our children as they encounter new concepts in Literacy, Maths, Visual Arts or Mandarin. Learning something new can feel uncertain at first. There may be false starts and tangled strings. But each attempt builds skill, confidence, and resilience.

My three kites needed the right conditions to rise. Wind and lots of it. Luckily the wind liked the suburb in which I lived, so this wasn’t an issue for me. Without wind, it cannot lift. In our school, that ‘wind’ is the encouragement, guidance, and high expectations provided by our teachers and families. Just as the wind supports the kite, a nurturing environment supports our children. When children feel safe, challenged, and believed in, they rise.

Equally important is the string attached to the kite. My three kites had varying types of string. Different materials and different lengths. While it may seem like the string holds the kite back, it actually keeps it grounded and connected. In our classrooms, structure, routines, and clear expectations are the string. They provide stability and direction. With the right balance of freedom and guidance, children can explore, create, and think independently, while remaining connected to strong foundational skills and values.

Sometimes, to help a kite climb higher, you must gently let out more string. Unfortunately, my Australian flag box kite experienced this, and ended up disappearing from the large oval space, flying over the houses and into the nearby street, coming to rest within the power lines, in a tangled web of mess. As teachers and parents, we do the same. As children grow in confidence and competence, we gradually release more responsibility to them. We encourage them to take ownership of their learning, make choices, solve problems, and reflect on their growth. This gradual release empowers them to soar higher than they imagined. 

Of course, there will be days when the wind changes. Storms roll in (that weather condition also liked my childhood suburb). The kite may need to be reeled back, repaired, and relaunched. These moments mirror the challenges our children face: academic struggles, social conflicts, or personal setbacks. Yet, it is through these experiences that perseverance is built. We teach our children that mistakes are not failures but opportunities to learn, adjust, and try again (getting that kite back in the air as soon as you can). 

Most importantly, flying a kite is joyful. There is wonder in watching it rise, pride in keeping it aloft, and excitement in seeing how high it can go. Learning should feel the same way. While it requires effort and determination, it should also spark curiosity and joy.

As partners in your child’s education, thank you for being the steady hands that help hold the string. Together, as a school community, we create the conditions that allow our children to lift off, stretch their potential, and soar toward bright futures (over and beyond the power lines). 

Wishing everyone a lovely ‘child-like’ weekend. 

Kind Regards,

Ed Weekes 

School Principal