From the Leadership Team
Please Do Sweat the Small Stuff
Small improvements make a big difference, and this is why we care about how our students wear their uniform, hair and jewellery, and how well prepared they are for their lessons. Even the simple rule that we do not allow chewing gum at school matters. Sometimes our students wonder why we care so much about these seemingly small things when the core business of school is learning.
We care because small habits shape long-term behaviour, preparedness affects learning outcomes and respect for rules build community and accountability.
When students come to school without a charged laptop, leave a textbook at home, or don’t have the correct paintbrush for Art, their ability to fully engage in lessons is disrupted.
Wearing the correct shoes, not wearing Physical Education uniform on the ‘wrong’ day and tying long hair up may seem like minor rules, but they signal a student’s respect for their learning environment and our community.
Arriving at school and lessons on time and being mentally ready to participate are signs of personal responsibility, maturity and readiness to learn.
When our students get this ‘small stuff’ wrong, they may receive what we call a Reminder. Endeavour’s Reminder system is a growth mindset approach to helping students learn from their mistakes.
If your child receives a Reminder, they, you and their Group teacher are notified via TASS so that appropriate support can be offered.
An accumulation of Reminders leads to consequences, and these escalate at 3, 6, 7 and 8 Reminders.
As we approach Term 4, students’ Reminders tally can creep up, so I encourage you to champion the development of excellent habits and support your children to wear the uniform correctly, be prepared for lessons and get to school and lessons on time.
It is our responsibility as parents and teachers to help students to get bad habits out of their way so that we can focus our energies on the ‘big stuff’.
Louisa Mulligan
Head of Middle School