Dear families,

I was very encouraged by our chapel this morning. We talked about kindness and how kind words are like honey, good for the soul. I really liked hearing how our words have the power to bring life and joy to others, a great reminder. Proverbs 16:24 says “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”

It was wonderful to see Boaz on keys, Elijah on the cajón, and our singers worshipping so well. I know they’ve been working hard on not just the act of singing and playing but also the act of worship! It blessed me seeing it.

As parents, we want to be involved in our child's day and learning, but it can be frustrating when our questions are met with brief responses like 'good' or 'nothing' when we ask what they learned or what they did. To help, I’d like to share some conversation starters that might encourage deeper discussions, these are not just specific to school but can be applied to a range of aspects of your child’s experiences.

A helpful approach is SOCK, which stands for Specific, Open-ended, Creative, and Kid-friendly questions. Here are some examples:

To learn more about your child’s experiences:
- What was the most surprising part of your day?
- What was something challenging you faced?
- What’s something you discovered for the first time?
To hear about your child’s friends:
- Did you meet or talk to someone new today?
- What’s something special about one of your friends?
To explore your child’s learning:
- What’s one new thing you learned today?
- Did anything make you curious or wonder why?
- Was there something you didn’t understand but want to?
To check in on emotions:
- If today were a colour, what would it be and why?
- Can you tell me about something that made you think today?

These are great things to ask to help give you further insight.

While these questions can open great conversations, it’s also important that we seek clarification from our children.

I sometimes receive calls from parents about incidents such as, “I heard an ambulance was called to the school” or, more recently, “I heard a possum was attacking students at lunch.” These are extreme examples, but a little questioning would have revealed that these dramatic reports were completely inaccurate—there was no ambulance, no serious injury, and certainly no possum!

While children aren’t deliberately lying, minor events can become exaggerated as they pass through multiple retellings, especially when heard second-hand. That said, not everything is a tall tale—about a month ago, we actually did have a fox on the property!

A great example of this happened with my own daughter. She recently told me there had been a fire at her preschool. Only after some gentle questioning did I realise she was actually talking about a fire drill!

When we hear about events at school, it's important to remember that we're getting a particular perspective from a specific moment in time. If your child says, “We learned nothing today” or “We just sat there,” it’s best not to take these statements at face value.

Gently questioning and guiding our children not only helps us gain a clearer picture of their experiences but also strengthens our relationship with the school. It teaches children that our first response is to listen with curiosity and, when needed, to help reframe their experiences.

Asking questions and seeking clarity is essential. Reinforcing trust in their teacher and the school also sends a powerful message—that home and school are working together for their success.

My door is always open.

Mr Joe Britton

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