Principal's Message

Principal's Message

 Welcome to Week 5 of an 11-week term.  It's going quickly, right?

It was lovely to see you at the front gate on Friday morning. As challenging as it is with the volume, I try to look into the eyes of every child as they enter the building. I don't always reach that goal, and I do apologise if ever you or your child walk past me in the crowd and say good morning, and I am unable to acknowledge you individually. I ask that you help me explain that to your children if they ever feel unseen in the moment.

The staff were overwhelmed by your generosity on World Teachers' Day. Your expression of goodwill to me personally in the morning was humbling. Staff asked me to pass on a collective thank you for your generosity of spirit, and also for some very kind gifts. We don't expect gifts, but when we receive them, we are grateful. So thank you.

There seems to be a 'World X Day' for everything nowadays. It's not bad to be grateful and recognise, so I understand the intent behind naming a day after a particular thing. It can get wearing. I'm sure there is a World Cucumber Day somewhere. Having said that, it is worth pausing and reflecting on how challenging being a teacher is in the current age. We are asked to do a lot of things, to be a teacher, psychologist, nurse, and everything in between. The beauty of our community is, I believe, that you know and recognise ours as a challenging profession. The gratitude you show doesn't go unnoticed, and adds to the positive atmosphere that surrounds the school.

Martin Seligman is regarded as the father of positive psychology. He's written extensively on the subject. It's not merely around being positive. His theory centres around how we think about the world, and how this determines how we feel about our place in it. We are all role models for our children in our mental framing. If we look into the sky and it is a mixture of blue and cloud, what is it that we see? Do we only see the clouds and worry about them shading the sun? Or do we only see the blue and ignore the rain? Or do we see both sun and cloud and understand they are part of a whole?

Our children will learn which of those we see by watching us. Parents are a child's first and most influential teachers. SMPS is a finishing school that was started by you at their birth. Framing makes all the difference. How do you convey the sky to your child as you look into the heavens? What you do and how you frame things makes all the difference. 

Have a lovely long weekend and week ahead.

Bits and Bobs

Our Year 5/6 students and staff attend camp in the coming week. From Wednesday to Friday, they will be enjoying each other's company in a natural environment. If you are a parent of those students, please make sure that you are on time on Wednesday morning, prepared with the right materials. We wish the group luck.

We have many families who will be celebrating Diwali. We extend our best wishes and hope that the Diwali celebration is joyous.  Our school is richer because of the beautiful mix of families that gather as part of our community. 

A reminder to all families that Monday is a curriculum day. If you need child-minding for your children, you can book into OSH Club online. Also, Tuesday is the Melbourne Cup public holiday with no classes and no OSH Club operating. We wish all families all the best on this extended long weekend.

Whole School House Sports Day @ Lakeside Stadium - Thursday, November 19

Email Mr Ryder at Ryder.Smith@smps.vic.edu.au if you would like to volunteer and support on the day. More details in terms of an event timetable, map and timings of the day for each activity and year level will be sent out closer to the trime.