All In This Together
From Mr Phillips
In order for students to have an opportunity to be back onsite at RSC in term 4, the community at large needs to continue to do its part in the coming weeks, building upon the great efforts and progress that has been made. Wearing masks when out and about, washing hands, staying socially distanced and following the rules, as painful as some of them may be, all ensure that our community can stay safe. This pandemic hasn’t changed who we are but we still have to work together.
Slogans do not produce change. Our actions have to continue to be much louder than our words.
This week I thought I would throw a few life hacks into the mix, and share how you are able to produce more “happiness chemicals” by undertaking certain activities. This resource was one that I came across in a recent BeYou series delivered by Beyond Blue, which in this instance emphasised the importance of self-care. These simple ‘how to’ actions are doable by anyone.
Today Friday August 28th is Wear It Purple Day. This day allows young people to celebrate their sexual and gender identities in public, brings people together, and keeps the discussion, personal story sharing and learning going. In this time of COVID-19, a sense of belonging is something everyone needs. Too often young people don’t know how much support they have until they see events like these. Wear It Purple was founded in 2010 in response to young people taking their own lives after experiencing bullying and harassment. As a school community that stands up for inclusion and diversity, it is important to recognise this history and it’s even more important to ensure LGBTQ+ people have the right to express themselves in public without fear.
For students, the final weeks of Term 3 provide a tremendous opportunity to reframe and reset and ensure that you gain the necessary feedback needed to move forward with your learning. There has also been a lot of emphasis on resilience this term.
"Resilience isn't a single skill. It's a variety of skills and coping mechanisms. To bounce back from bumps in the road as well as failures, you should focus on emphasizing the positive." ― Jean Chatzky
Michael Phillips, OAM
Principal
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
Despite this challenging year, Ringwood Secondary College mentors have managed to facilitate and foster great experiences for many our Pre-Service Teachers.
In the remote environment it has not been easy, yet they have displayed exemplary professionalism and great support. I would like to extend my gratitude to all mentors for their unwavering support and expertise in providing this professional guidance and coaching.
Congratulations to our 4th Year Pre-Service Teachers (PST’s) who have completed their 2nd last placement and will return in Term 4, before launching into the world of work and teaching. They have been wonderful ambassadors for their respective universities, contributing in many ways to the Ringwood Secondary College program, as well as providing professional support for their mentors.
2021 Leadership
2021 student leadership applications are now being sought, so please ensure that you understand the process and meet the deadline. All details can be found on Compass. A big hank you to Ms Karly Horton for leading this process and currently organising the Prefect interviews!
Wellbeing focus…
Wellbeing Builder: Positive & optimistic thinking
Meaning and Purpose: Leadership/Move more
As Barbara Fredrickson’s research has informed us, it is the frequency of positive emotions, not their intensity, which builds our wellbeing. Looking at life optimistically and searching for what is good in things and right about what we are doing sees positive emotions bubbling away in us. We are striving, thriving and flourishing.
When we educate our students about the amazing benefits of adopting an optimistic outlook in their lives and introduce them to the little positive actions they can do often, they shine. Happy people enjoy better health and are more likely to achieve what they set out to do.
The alternative is to look at life pessimistically and search for what is wrong with things. Well guess what? People who adopt this negative way of thinking find plenty of things they perceive to be not right, because that is all they are on the lookout for. It’s a pity they miss out on the great things that are happening and could happen. As such, they seldom have those warm feelings of gratitude and appreciation.
The zest of optimistic thinkers is contagious and rubs off on those around them.
To assist yourself with building positive emotion, you may wish to use the September ‘Self Care’ calendar.
Maria Allison
Assistant Principal