Principal Address
Dear Parents,
School is where children develop important life skills, including learning how to navigate friendships, solve problems and resolve conflict. As parents, our natural instinct is to want to fix the problem immediately. However, one of the most helpful things we can do is allow the school to investigate and manage concerns in a calm, measured and consistent way.
Half way through the year is also a good time to remind all of our community of appropriate processes. Concerns should always be raised through the school and never directly to another parent or student. In my experience, approaching another child's parents directly in the hope of resolving an issue almost never leads to a positive outcome.
Often, parents only hear one side of the story, emotions can become heightened and matters that may have been relatively minor can quickly escalate. Schools are in a unique position because we are able to speak with all students involved, gather information from multiple perspectives and make decisions based on the full picture.
This is not to suggest that concerns should be ignored. We encourage parents to raise concerns with the school and trust that staff will investigate and respond appropriately. Our goal is always to support students, restore relationships where possible and help children learn the important social skills that will serve them throughout life.
At the same time, it is worth remembering that not every playground disagreement requires intervention. Children are still learning how to navigate friendships, manage conflict, share, communicate and resolve misunderstandings. A disagreement over a game, a child taking someone's yoghurt lid, touching another student's hat, excluding someone from a game for a short period of time, or an unkind comment made in frustration, are often opportunities for learning rather than signs of something more serious.
One of my favourite books on parenting is called "The Bonsai Child” by Judith Locke. "Bonsai Children" who are so carefully protected from every difficulty that they are never given the opportunity to develop resilience. Just as a bonsai tree is intentionally prevented from growing to its full potential, children can miss important opportunities for growth if adults constantly step in to remove every challenge from their path.
Judith Locke's central message is that resilience is not built by removing every obstacle from a child's path. Rather, resilience develops when children are supported to work through obstacles, navigate challenges and discover that they are capable of overcoming difficulties. While every parent wants to protect their child from hurt, disappointment and conflict, these experiences, when managed appropriately, often become the very moments that help children develop confidence, perseverance and emotional maturity.
Part of growing up is learning that not everyone will think the same way, behave the same way, or always make good choices. School provides a safe environment for children to learn how to navigate these realities. They learn how to forgive, how to compromise, how to stand up for themselves respectfully, how to seek help when needed and how to work alongside people who may be very different from them.
This does not mean that serious behaviour is tolerated. We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to bullying. However, bullying is a repeated and deliberate behaviour directed towards a student over time involving a misuse of power. It is different from a one-off disagreement, an isolated unkind comment, or the normal friendship challenges that occur as children learn and grow.
Primary school is in many ways, life unfolding. It is where children learn not only reading, writing and mathematics, but also how to be friends, how to resolve conflict, how to show kindness, and how to contribute positively to a community. While we will always take concerns seriously, we also recognise that some of life's most valuable lessons are learned through working through small challenges with support, guidance and encouragement from the adults around us.
As parents and educators, our role is not to remove every bump in the road, but to walk alongside children as they learn how to navigate them. When schools and families partner together in this way, we help raise young people who are not only cared for, but also resilient, capable and ready for life beyond the school gates.
My door is always open.
Mr Joe Britton
Celebrating Growth This Term
As we come to the end of another busy and rewarding term, it is a valuable opportunity to reflect on the many ways our children have grown. While academic progress is important, some of the most significant growth can be seen in the confidence and independence that have developed throughout the term.
Over the past ten weeks, K–2 has been filled with memorable experiences and opportunities for learning. From excursions and special events to classroom activities and performances, children have been encouraged to explore new ideas, embrace challenges and step outside their comfort zones. These experiences enrich learning and help develop qualities that will support them well beyond their primary school years.
Every child has their own strengths, goals and journey. For some, growth is reflected in academic achievement. For others, it may be seen in their willingness to persevere through challenges, form new friendships, take on greater responsibility or have the confidence to try something new. It has been rewarding to see the progress made across so many different areas of school life.
We are incredibly proud of all that has been achieved this term. Thank you to our families for your continued support and partnership. Together, we have had the joy of watching our children learn, grow and mature. We look forward to seeing all that they will accomplish in the term ahead.
Miss Djané Kinnear
Kindergarten Teacher and K-2 Coordinator