From the Principal

It feels like every time I have turned on the news recently, there is another report of a high-profile sports figure accused of making inflammatory or discriminatory statements, often in the heat of the moment, an outpouring of passion or frustration. I have no doubt that in many cases, the person did not mean what they said. There have been many examples of heartfelt apologies that have followed. I am sure there are also cases where what has been reported may not be exactly what was said.

James 3 talks about the power of words, particularly the power of words to hurt or inflame and uses a series of metaphors to reinforce how such a small part of the body can be so difficult to control.

Sometimes children and young people say things. They might be hurtful or insensitive or inappropriate. They might be frustrated or angry. They might be trying to fit in with others or establish their social status. They might not really be thinking at all, parroting what they have heard from other sources.

While we were on camp recently, there were times when we had to speak to students about some of their words. Certainly nothing on the scale of what was reported in the news but I saw teachers taking students aside to gently pull them up, to help them to reflect on the impact of their words and to facilitate an apology. Most of the time, students will learn from these experiences. I am sure as adults, we can remember times when our own mouth ran faster than our brains and we have said things before we had a chance to stop them.

As a school community, we work in partnership with families to shape the character of young people. We want them to develop self-control, to be compassionate and respectful in their interactions with all sorts of people. That means engaging in an ongoing process of guiding them, of nudging them in the right direction.

I spoke to our primary students this week about using build ups, rather than put downs, about making a conscious effort to say something each day that encourages or builds the confidence of another. I hope we can continue to develop a culture in which it is more ‘normal’ for words of support and positivity to pour out of us, rather than words of derision of insult. I hope that can be one of the things that sets us apart as a community.

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

~ Colossians 3:12-13

Jodie Bennett

Principal