From the Principal

While it was a cool, windy day, that did not stop our students from enjoying their time at the Cross Country. There is always a mix of serious competitors, those looking to challenge themselves and those happy to enjoy a walk in the fresh air. A special thank you to our Primary and Secondary student leaders who contributed to many different organisation roles, whether it be leading a warmup and stretch or handing out ribbons and stickers at the end of the run.

Over the past week, I have been in several conversations with people in which the word ‘respect’ has been used. It has been interesting to consider the assumptions that underpin how the word has been used. Earlier this year, we released an updated version of the student Code of Conduct, basing it around being safe, being respectful and being responsible.

As a compassionate learning community, every individual within our school is treated with respect.

A respectful learner will:

Listen attentively to others, facing the person speaking and addressing them in a polite tone
Be considerate of the personal space of others
Support the learning of others
Give due credit to the contributions of others
Use voice volume suited to the situation – silent, partner or group voice

A respectful learner will not:

Speak over, ignore or argue with others
Deface, damage or interfere with their own, others or school property
Be excessively loud in an enclosed space
Interfere with the learning of others
Claim the work of others or technologically-enhanced contributions as their own

There is no doubt that relationships work best when respect operates both ways. We will all respond better when we know we are being treated in a way that we recognise as being respectful. However, we can’t always guarantee how others can be treated. Unfortunately, many people will respond to such a situation with ways that are also not respectful. This can precipitate a ‘race to the bottom’ where both parties end up more and more hurt and it becomes harder to restore the relationship.

Jesus taught clearly that if we are treated badly, we are still to respond with love and compassion. In Matthew 6: 27-31 we are taught:

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you."

This does not mean we accept abusive behaviour from others but that we maintain our inner strength and continue to treat that person with respect, even while pushing back on that treatment. One thing I want our students to learn is how they can be strong even when being compassionate and empathetic.

Jodie Bennett

Principal

Our Primary Breakfast Club restarts for Term 2 this Friday morning!

Primary students are welcome from 8:20am to join Mr Richardson for a toast and jam breakfast.

Thank you to Mrs Anna Greener for supplying us with some of her wonderful home made jam!