From the Prin and the AP

Helping Kids Face Anxiety

One of the challenges we face as parents and teachers is watching children wrestle with worry. Our instinct is to protect them, to take the stress away. But sometimes, despite our best intentions, that can actually make things harder in the long run.

When my own child was anxious about a school excursion recently, I came across something that really struck a chord with me. The main idea was simple: the goal isn’t to take anxiety away, but to help kids learn to manage it and trust that they can handle those tricky feelings.

A few points stood out. Don’t avoid things just because they make your child anxious. Show empathy, but don’t feed the fear. Keep expectations positive but realistic - let them know they’ll be okay, even if the situation feels uncomfortable. It also helps to keep the “worry time” short and to model calm, healthy ways of handling our own stress.

Charles Duhigg also talks about the power of positive reinforcement in shaping habits. Rewards stick far better than punishments when we want to create lasting change. So if your child is nervous about an excursion, something as simple as saying, “let’s grab ice-cream when I pick you up,” can help them push through in a way that punishment never will.

And so, after talking through the scenarios, wiping away a few tears, we got on the bus - and yes, had ice-cream before dinner.

You can read the full piece from the Child Mind Institute here: What to Do (and Not Do) When Children Are Anxious.

Charles Duhigg was recently on the Peter Attia podcast, "The Drive".

Traffic Around School

The council has been active in our area recently, and we wanted to remind everyone about safe driving at school drop off and pick up. A few key points to keep in mind:

• Please park only in marked parking bays, not in driveways.
• Avoid U-turns across single or double lines. They are unsafe and illegal.
• Use the designated drop off and pick up zones as intended - quick stops only.

These small steps make a big difference to safety and keep traffic moving smoothly. Thanks for doing your part.

SWPBS Blitz – Using Kind Words and Manners

Our current SWPBS Blitz is all about using kind words and manners. We’re focusing on greetings, “please” and “thank you,” and speaking respectfully to one another. It’s a simple habit that makes a big difference in how safe and welcoming our school feels.

The effort students put in is paying off - and as a whole school we’ve earned our Hot Chip Picnic reward! We’ll celebrate together with hot chip picnic next week. See the separate article for details.

Thanks for reinforcing these expectations at home too. A reminder from you makes the message even stronger.

Tom and Leanne.