Message from the Principal

Committed to Community: The Importance of Relationships

Last year I was delighted when one of our parents explained that a reason why their family chose Calrossy was the friendliness shown by a Property team staff member towards staff and students. It was something that was very apparent to me when I arrived.

It reminded me that one thing that makes our School appealing is the strong commitment we have towards relationships. It is our goal to create a learning community that makes all members welcome and a focus resolutely fixed on what is most important – the individuals in our School. The simple idea is that people matter.

Helping Students to learn and grow is our main aim and in doing this well we seek to model the sorts of relationships that will assist them to develop, mature and ultimately make a difference in adult lives. We want our students to have knowledge but we value them as individuals.

Teachers are vital to the learning process and the relationships that are enjoyed in the classroom are vital. The teacher-student relationship should not be termed ‘friendship’ but it must be built around mutual respect, as what students need during the school years are adults who care, who are firm, fair, calm and consistent. Schools in which students and staff work closely together are the ones in which students thrive.

Parent relationships are also vital. Research identifies clear, measurable benefits for children when their parents are actively engaged in their learning.

“Children are more likely to develop positive self-esteem, be motivated to learn, be positive about school and achieve good grades. Adolescents are less likely to have discipline issues, get involved in substance abuse or drop out of school. Young people are more likely to maintain high aspirations and plan to go on to further education and build a career.”  (1)

I have been greatly encouraged by the high involvement of parents in our Information events during these first weeks at school. Parents and teachers work in partnership together and attendance at such gatherings supports this. Clear communication between school and home is essential and the feedback that each provides allows a consistent focused approach, supporting the best outcomes for students of all ages.

Peer to peer relationships cannot be ignored. Age-appropriate relationships that promote care, value and respect should be modelled by teachers and families. Learning to disagree agreeably and negotiating the ups and downs of human friendships are important. The skill of collaboration is required, as learning is not just an individual thing but a group exercise. The support of friends and peers is vital to healthy growth. Our Diamond Model promotes relationships and I love that our Primary and Secondary students make friends with their own gender but also learn from and contribute to older and younger students. Modelling and learning how to relate to others is a deliberate part of our program, which leads to healthy adulthood.

When the relationship culture is right, a school ultimately ends up a better place. That is not to say that all relationships will be perfect but we should strive to reflect our school values of integrity, selflessness, resilience and inclusiveness. It is within relationships that these are learned and manifested. As a Christian school it is important that our relationships demonstrate forgiveness and reflect God’s great generosity towards humankind. We should take on the words of Paul in his letter to the Colossians:   “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3: 12 -14.

1. QCTResearchDigest2014-10

David Smith

Principal