Message from the

Director of Co-curricular

Co-curricular involvement is integral to our school

As Director of CC I make every attempt to get to as many activities as I can across the full range of offerings in Performing Arts, Cadets and Sport. They are all important, even the social activities that some students choose to take on. It is one huge point of difference that schools such as KWS offer – a full CC program. As I have often said in different forums, I have no doubt about the benefits of involvement in such a programme, I have no doubt that those who choose an activity and stick with it, are taking up an opportunity that has the potential to set them up with many skills and personal attributes that will be helpful in many walks of life.

I have always been involved in schools where co-curricular is an imperative. Involvement in such activities helps develop what is known as a growth mindset, put simply, a mindset that recognises that effort, and persistence in effort, are what counts most in any endeavour, not innate talent or natural ability. It is the willingness to try, to fail, to try again, to fail and to try again and to persist until one sees improvement. If we cast our minds back to when we first started a new skill, one that we have found challenging, then we know what it is like to fail. If we persisted in the activity, then we have tried, failed, tried again, and so on. We have persisted. This is the most valuable lesson that involvement in co-curricular activities can give you, as long as you have a go and give it your best effort. In my short experience at KWS, this has been a hallmark of the majority of students with whom I have been involved.

Let me tell you a brief story as an example of the impact that involvement in co-curricular activity can have.

Some years ago, in my old rowing club, we were celebrating the 125th anniversary of that club. I was reminiscing with some past rowers and one of them told me his story, when I asked him what he was doing. He had joined the Royal Australian Navy and had risen to the rank of commissioned officer that saw him piloting a sea hawk helicopter. He had seen active service over Iran and had flown several night flights, in close proximity to the enemy no fly zone. Now think about this for a moment: he is in charge of a multimillion dollar, high tech flying machine, with loads of explosive weapons on board, as well as around 20 troops who were relying on his ability to keep them safe, to be able to control his nerves and his machine and to bring them home alive. Utterly amazing stuff, which none of us who haven’t seen active service could begin to appreciate. When I expressed absolute admiration for his skills and abilities, he was very humble, and he asked me:

‘Do you know what got me through those night flights, when I was so nervous and anxious that I could hardly control myself?’

I had no idea.

He replied: “I took myself back to when I was sitting on the starting line for my final race for the club with my four mates and I relived the moment on that day, when I had never been so nervous, so anxious and so lacking in confidence about putting myself through the pain of the next 6 or 7 minutes. And I would say to myself, if I was able to cope with that, then I could cope with anything!”

Those of you who know me well would know that I am deeply passionate about rowing, but even I thought he was going a bit far and I foolishly responded: “Come on mate, that was just a rowing race, and you’re talking about being responsible for people’s lives, at night, flying over enemy territory with a very real chance of being shot down!!”

Well, to say that he was angry with me is an understatement and it was now me that was nervous, as this young man had grown even more and was now 6 foot 6, about 100 kgs and was very upset with me for challenging what he had said.

He regained his composure – thankfully for my sake – and then explained how rowing had indeed taught him these lessons, about effort, about persistence, about a growth mindset. He acknowledged the difference between the two events, but he was firm in his conviction about the lessons he had learned from his schoolboy rowing days.

I would extrapolate such benefits of co-curricular involvement to all fields of endeavour that we offer here at KWS, not just sport, but also performing arts and cadets. I have seen the benefits accrue to many students over many years, including my own children, so I would highly recommend a full and passionate involvement. We offer such a comprehensive range of activities, that we should be able to cater for most students. When we can’t, then we are very willing to support students in recognise activities outside the school that we cannot offer.

To that end, it is timely that I repeat from my last bulletin that the strategic intent for Co-Curricular programs for the immediate future states:

CC involvement is integral to our school. We believe the provision of a well-balanced and developmentally appropriate CC program enhances the holistic learning opportunities for all students. The school expects a full commitment to the CC program and it is our intent to support all participants in fulfilling this expectation.

I encourage all our students to fully involve themselves in the program and I look forward to a bright future for the Co-curricular program here at KWS.

Charlie Rowe

Director of Co-curricular