Principal News 

Attention. It is one of the hardest things in our current times. I struggle with it, I see our students struggle with it, my children struggle and the impacts are being proven through research. 

The real challenge of attention is that the expectation is now that we should be engaged and happy, or excited, all of the time. We should question this reality.  Is it really achievable?  

One thing that is discussed widely in education in the past decade is engagement. The expectation was that students should be engaged all of the time. Now, that is what we would hope, however, it is a poor predictor of learning. Have you watched a movie that you really loved, or seen a comedian and laughed uncontrollably, only to try and tell someone about the jokes or the part in the movie you loved, but had trouble recalling? That is purely because we are prone to forgetting. 

Learning is what we move into our long term memory. This often takes multiple exposures. Therefore, it is true what they say, practice really makes perfect....well creates improvement. 

I am reading a great book titled "Why Don't Students Like School?" by Daniel Willingham, a world leading psychologist. The reality is, schools are trying harder than ever to engage kids, but school refusal is higher than ever. Schools cater to more individual needs than ever, but we are missing more students. 

Willingham talks about why video games are so effective at gaining attention. It's because of the immediate feedback. It's because students can experience success quickly. Have you ever played a game that's too hard, how long do you persist? That's the reason levels exist. 

The solution, in schools we need to get the students to practice skills with some repetition. That's not exciting, its not new, but it will help them learn. Some parts will be 'boring', other parts more exciting, however, the real motivation comes from achievement.

Three things we need to do then: acknowledge effort, acknowledge progress and provide opportunities for students to do what they love sometime during the week. 

Celebration of our students

1. Our students who attended athletics who put in such great effort. I am so proud of you all. 
2. Our netball and football students, who competed with great endeavour against more experienced opponents, with great attitudes. So proud of you! 
3. Komoch, Ella and Ella in Yr 6 who were so caring and nurturing to young future preps around the school whilst their parents met with Mrs Drossaert and Mrs Cheyne. You were amazing. 
4. All of our students during playtimes, but particularly our Year 3-6, who have been brilliant at play this term, the joy they show is a credit to them.

I will be away from the 18th to the 22nd of August attending the National Catholic Education Conference on the 20th to 22nd, and a retreat focused on Pope Francis Ladauto Si from the Sunday 17th to Tuesday 19th in Cairns. Mrs Pauline Moran will lead the school whilst I am away.