Nearing the Hump

Dear Families,

In my last newsletter, I spoke about preparing for Winter and would like to start this one with thanks to students and families for their commitment in this endeavour. Umbrellas and ponchos are starting to appear in school bags as a precaution which shows me that planning for our students to be safe, warm and dry as the weather changes is well under way. Many new winter uniforms are appearing and many visitors to the College have commented on how smart our students look in full uniform. Having said this, I also take on board feedback from families and students and would like to offer the following points of clarification to some common questions or concerns:

1: The green jumpers are itchy, can we change them? This was discussed with our provider and the cotton alternative was vulnerable to fading, wear and tear. A nylon/polyester blend was also discussed which although softer, is far less resilient, not as warm and is highly vulnerable to stretching, odour and damage. For adults who wash with care or even dry-clean, they might work, but in a school context, we have opted for warmth and durability instead. Many students and families will affirm that the key is to persist through a few washes and wears after which the garment will soften. Wool wash is also recommended over standard soaps to improve comfort. Finally, a long sleeve warmth layer, under a long sleeve school shirt provides a comfortable barrier between the jumper and skin, allowing it to warm without irritation.

2: Can we wear PE jackets all the time? Our jackets are a standard part of the P-6 uniform and PE is only in secondary. Blazers are available to be worn over the green or navy (senior only) jumpers in 7-12. Although wearing a blazer is something that can take some getting used to, it is also another important representation of our focus on building school pride and breaking stereotypes. Your local public school should stand out as a place of excellence and integrity in our community and our standard of dress should be no exception. Raincoats of any style can be worn to and from school but should be removed during the day as we do not have students outside in the rain during the school day anyway.

3: Hooded jumpers – why can’t I wear one? Because they are not part of our uniform in any way shape or form. Our students love them as do I on a weekend, but they are a casual dress item and we do not have a casual dress uniform. This is one area that we will not compromise on and ask families to support. Our uniform offers up to four layers of warmth, plus a raincoat to and from school. Within the school day, there are only 60 minutes of the day where students are outside of heated rooms (which are set at a warmer temperature than most students set them to in summer while wearing single layers). There is no argument around warmth for wearing a hood, please support us in raising the standard of dress across the school.

4: Cost – the uniform is too expensive. We respect and acknowledge that uniforms can be an expense for families. I often reflect with families on the number of times a school uniform will be worn relative to its cost. In many cases, the “cost per wear” is far less than many of the expensive fashion items students will purchase to only wear a few times before discarding. A school uniform can be worn 200 days per year, so on balance, it is worth reflecting on the ratio and value of uniforms vs casual items in children’s wardrobes. It is not my place to tell families how to clothe their children or spend their money, I only offer these reflections in the hope that they might support those who are willing and able to enter into this discussion with their children. In cases of hardship, please reach out to our admin team to see if state school relief can support you. Alternatively, students or parents should reach out to homeroom teachers or year-level coordinators to explore options for support.

Semester Reports

Our core business at the College is learning growth and as the Semester draws to a close, our staff head into their peak workload with reports due. Primary students will be finalising ongoing assessments and teachers across the school will be forming judgements against the Victorian Curriculum based on the evidence made available to them by our hard-working students. In secondary classes, students are preparing for exams which also need to be marked in a very short period. I ask that families consider teacher workload over the coming weeks and be aware that response times might be delayed. There are never enough hours in the day to complete all our assessments and even with the approaching curriculum day, most staff will make use of long weekends, late nights and an abundance of coffee to reach their deadlines.

They are not alone in this stressful period as for many families the end of financial year brings with it all kinds of quotas, deadlines, stocktakes, audits and other additional tasks that flood our working week. It is a great reminder to be mindful that our own stress can influence our decision making along with that of others around us.

Be Curious, Not Judgemental

One of my favourite TV binges recently was the Ted Lasso series depicting an American football coach who finds himself way out of his depth coaching a failing British football (soccer to those who won’t be offended). Perhaps his most famous scene calls his audience to be Curious, not Judgemental as he is underestimated and mocked before his motive and intent to help others becomes apparent. It is a theme I have taken up with our leadership team and now extends to our community as we approach the tensions, frustrations, workload and conflicts that may come over the coming months. When faced with a conflicting opinion, consider asking yourself why this is happening? Why are they behaving that way? How might I help or avoid this conflict? How might we find a middle ground and focus on solving problems, rather than defending a position or worse, launching an all-out offensive? How can I manage my own emotions to achieve a better outcome for everyone involved?

Great things are happening all around us, every day and I firmly believe that we are inherently trying to do our best with the skills and resources available to us. We will not always agree, but we can act with Integrity and Respect while seeking Innovative ways to work together for our kids.

Enjoy the approaching long weekend and the winter holidays that will soon follow.

Warmest regards,

Nathan Guthridge

Principal

Key Dates