Headmaster's

Message

R U OK?

R U OK?  What a great question and one we should all ask more often, of ourselves and those around us. This is especially true on a day when every member of our Community feared for the safety of one of our own.  We thank God our precious Mrs Van Gelderen was delivered home by diligent Emergency Service workers.

The wellbeing of every one of us will be placed at risk, and even compromised, at various stages throughout our lives for a variety of reasons that include external threats, seriously adverse life circumstances and internal personal factors. As a School, we seek to provide for student, parent and staff wellbeing at all these levels. Central to our efforts are the range of policies we have that pertain to enrolment, safety, student wellbeing, child protection, student attendance, student behaviour management, making complaints, appealing decisions, as well as the prevention and management of harassment. They work together to provide a safe and supportive environment for staff, students and parents. 

Schools should be places free from malignant threats. In two previous Pulse articles this term, I highlighted two of the most crucial School policies directed at managing threats; our Child Protection Policy and our Anti-Harassment Policy. I did not mention these because we have immediate issues in relation to either, but because our vigilance in these areas protects our community from serious incidents and ensures that when issues do arise they are managed promptly. 

Schools should be places of support through times when life is more challenging than usual. Schools should also be places where those with any kind of health condition can receive support whilst they undergo treatment or learn to self-manage. This applies as much to mental health as it does to physical health. Health is health! 

At BMGS, teachers and members of our Family Liaison Team are currently very focused on asking R U OK? and supporting parents during this season of learning from home. Parents are always very focused on asking their children R U OK? and supporting them. This week, on R U OK? Day, BMGS students were reminded to ask each other R U OK? and to support one another in moments of struggle. Every BMGS teacher and many other members of our staff team are focused on asking students R U OK?, both in personal conversations and online surveys, as well as supporting student wellbeing. In addition, those of us who are leaders are focused on asking staff R U OK? and catering for the wellbeing of our staff. These commitments are the support network that is the fabric of this community.

Whilst Blue Mountains Grammar School strives to be safe and supportive, we do not strive to be a community free from all threat, risk, adversity or challenge but a culture in which children and adults are always becoming better equipped to flourish in the face of these inevitabilities. We take the opportunities that life’s challenges present each person to nurture the skills, capabilities and character traits we each need to navigate our lives. When threats arise, we manage them, reflect on them and learn from them. When challenges arise, we embrace them, meet them, reflect on them and learn from them. When health issues arise, we seek treatment, reflect on its physical, emotional and psychological effects and learn whatever we can about how to overcome them or live with them. As we learn, we discover who we are, what our capacities and capabilities are, and we grow. We become more skilful; more capable and more able to meet the challenges of our lives.

Blue Mountains Grammar School is all about making people stronger.

Go team!

Mr Ian Maynard

Headmaster