Leader of Year 7 Wellbeing
Ms Jennifer Allan
Welcome to Semester 2: Cultivating Gratitude and Readiness
Welcome back to Term 3! I am excited to welcome our students back to St Aloysius College for the start of Semester 2. So far this term, we have focused our pastoral care on two deeply meaningful pillars: the daily practice of gratitude and a sincere exploration of our guiding school motto, Je Suis Prêt.
Fostering Gratitude
During our Pastoral Period in Week 1, we placed a strong and heartfelt emphasis on gratitude. To put this concept into meaningful action, students took time to complete a gratitude mind map in their Resilience Project diaries. Following this, the students participated together in a "Gratitude in Practice" activity, helping them to recognise and appreciate the positive aspects of their daily lives.
Je Suis Prêt: I Am Ready
At our core, our identity is that of a proud Lasallian community. We spent time this week exploring our guiding motto, "Je Suis Prêt", which translates to "I am ready". We want our students to understand that this motto is far more than just words; it is a daily call to action and a deeply personal commitment to step into every classroom prepared to give their absolute best. We explored what it means to be truly ready across three key areas of their lives. First, we looked at the importance of mental readiness, which means arriving with focus and a genuine curiosity to learn. We also talked about practical readiness, which involves having the right tools and staying organised. Finally, we focused on spiritual readiness, which asks our students to remain open to personal growth, respect for others, and our shared community values.
The Power of a Growth Mindset
A major part of being ready for learning is embracing a growth mindset, which is the foundational belief that your abilities can always be developed through dedication and hard work. We are encouraging our students to wholeheartedly embrace the power of "yet," gently shifting their internal dialogue from things like "I don’t understand this" to "I don’t understand this yet".
Partnering for a Successful Semester
As we dive deeper into Semester 2, I warmly invite you to partner with us in reinforcing these themes at home. Whether it is sharing a simple moment of gratitude around the dinner table or discussing how they can apply the power of "yet" to a challenging subject, your continued support is absolutely invaluable.