Assistant Principal's Report

Can you believe it is nearly the end of the term? It has been wonderful to see the students settling into the routine of learning and enjoying their time at school. This term has been such a busy one though with swimming, incursions, and camp for our Year 5 students – I am sure that the students are looking forward to their holiday break and spending some time with family and friends! 

When my daughter first started school, I planned a lot of activities and outings ahead of time so that (I thought) the holidays would be fun, and nobody would be bored. But within the first few days of the break, the behaviour at home would become questionable and my hopes for a happy and relaxing holiday vanished into thin air.

It took me a while to figure out that by planning everything with military precision, I may be contributing to this. By the end of a school term, everyone is exhausted. Adding more pressure with lots of external activities, especially in the first week, was only going to end in disaster (or tears, depending on the day). 

This is not to say that we should do nothing in the holidays, or that we should leave our children to their own devices for two weeks. Rather, I think it can be a great opportunity to consider planning less and enjoying more. 

A question that I am asked all the time is how to find a good balance. There is no right answer, and it all depends on your family, but there are some key ingredients that have worked well for my family and others’:

Put aside the first day or two as recovery time 

Everyone is exhausted and running around is only going to make it worse. A pyjama and movie or board games day can help reset energy levels. If you are a working parent and planning to take some time off to be at home with your children, the first couple of days might the best time to take off work to spend quality time together. 

Have a routine, even for days spent at home 

It’s no secret that I LOVE a routine! While the holidays offer a break from the structure of school, research (and experience) tells us that children thrive on routine. Rather than having completely open-ended days, create a loose structure to your time. Regular meals, consistent bedtime routines, and predictable pockets of activity can help children feel safe, secure, and emotionally balanced. The holidays don’t have to be rigid, but the repetition of positive habits - whether it’s morning walks, family time, or even quiet moments - helps ground everyone during a time of potential upheaval.

Encourage play and creativity over achievement 

The holidays should be a time to embrace the freedom to play and create without any external pressure. Encourage your children to explore new forms of creative expression: drawing, building, writing, or just daydreaming. Let them roam freely in their imagination. This unstructured creative time not only boosts their emotional health, but it also develops their problem-solving abilities, enhances their adaptability, and helps them learn through trial and error in a low-stakes environment.