From the Head of Junior School

The Power of Small Habits

It’s hard to believe that the first month of the school year has almost finished! During the first few weeks, our classroom teachers have spent considerable time working with students to plan for the year ahead, discussing aspirations and hopes for 2024.

In his best-selling book, ‘Atomic Habits’, James Clear argues that the key to success isn’t in setting a goal, but instead developing a system of small habits. He believes that goals are at odds with long-term progress because they focus on the outcome, rather than the process. Given that we are now in the midst of our Term 1 Parent Teacher Interviews, this is certainly a point that we can all emphasise with students. What small steps will they need to take in order to achieve success? Most importantly, how can we guide them on that journey? 

Clear goes on to explain that the reason habits are so powerful is that they create a ‘small win’ and from that moment of success, the behaviour is repeated…and there is no better time to establish those habits that allow the wins than right now!

The Importance of Respect

Respect builds feelings of trust, safety and wellbeing and so its presence in our school and classroom environments has always been paramount. Respect does many things, some of which are; it helps teach empathy, develops positive communication skills, makes children feel comfortable to express themselves and it encourages individuality.

As students have now settled into the new academic year, it is imperative that they are both shown and demonstrate respect in their many interactions with others. However, the notion of respect doesn’t always come naturally and it is certainly something that can be learnt and further developed too.

Quite simply, respect is showing care and kindness towards someone else, as well as oneself. Throughout the year ahead, our students will have a plethora of ways to demonstrate the important characteristic of respect to others, such as by:

• making decisions that positively impact those around them
• navigating disagreements and varying opinions during discussions
• considering how they can be a servant leader to others
• demonstrating gratitude towards others through words and actions
• taking time to greet others and refer to them by name
• checking in and asking after others.

As students become more independent and mature, the concept of respect will hopefully become even more important to them. As it stands, they are already making decisions that affect themselves and the people around them each day at school, even if they don’t realise it at the time.

Safer Internet Day

‘Safer Internet Day’ is a global event that brings together communities, families, schools and organisations from more than 200 countries to help create safer online spaces. Recently recognised this year on Tuesday 6 February, the slogan for Safer Internet Day is ‘Connect, Reflect, Protect’.

• Connect safely and with purpose – by keeping apps and devices secure and using social media in positive ways 
• Reflect before we act – by taking a moment to consider how what we do and say online may affect others
• Protect ourselves with knowledge – by telling family and friends about the eSafety Commissioner and how they can help. 

As technology continues to play a significant role in our daily lives, it is important for our students to learn how to stay safe online. There are also some valuable resources available for parents in Australia to help keep their children safe while using the internet.

One such resource is the eSafety Commissioner’s website, which provides information and resources on online safety, cyberbullying and privacy. Another helpful resource is the Australian Federal Police’s ‘ThinkUKnow’ program, which offers practical advice and tips on how students can stay safe online.

Technology has evolved dramatically in the last 20 years, creating huge benefits and opportunities. However, in doing so, it has also exposed us to risks with real-world impacts. This is why online safety awareness is so important!

We encourage all parents in our Junior School community to take advantage of these resources and have open discussions with their children about online safety. Our school is committed to providing a safe and secure online environment for every individual, and we believe that this goal can readily be achieved through a joint collaboration between key stakeholders.

Junior School Parent Teacher Interviews

Over the next two weeks, our classroom teaching staff will host parents to discuss their child’s learning at school in 2024 and we sincerely appreciate you taking the time to do so. Conversations of this nature are invaluable and truly do assist us in furthering our understanding of each individual student. If you have not been able to book a meeting time, please contact your child’s specific teacher so that an alternative arrangement can be made at a mutually convenient time. As always, the communication channel between home and school remains open, so please reach out whenever required.

If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me via email or phone and I will endeavour to assist you in any way that I can.