Principals Message

Dear Parents/Carers,

 

I have been reading the works of Michael Fullan. He is the Global Leadership Director, New Pedagogies for Deep Learning and a worldwide authority on educational reform with a mandate of helping to achieve the moral purpose of all children learning.

Michael says,” In our ever-complex and contentious world we can no longer afford to separate wellbeing and learning. For one thing wellbeing is learning. As complexity in the world has evolved, Wellbeing and Learning represent an integrated concept. You cannot be successful on one without the other. They feed each other in a way that success begets success. As we will see, advances in the neuroscience of learning favour the seamless integration of the two elements.” 

 

The introduction of our Living Well learning Well Framework across the Diocese is a huge step in the right direction. Our recent survey of all children in the school has given us some excellent feedback on individuals and trends across our school. This honest information provides us with a clear direction for the start of Term 2. 

Below are some extracts from the survey.

What are some ways you know you are cared for at school?

  • Another way is that if I feel sad or angry people will ask me what's wrong and try their best to cheer me up or if I fall over (rarely) people come to cheer me up and help me and ask if I need an ice pack or a teacher.
  • My friends and teachers are very comforting and help and care for me in the good and the bad times. 
  • It is especially good to know there are always people to talk to and get help from. I also love how the teacher can read our emotions.
  • Getting a teacher when needed, you trust that they will help you.
  • Because they listen to me when I have a problem.
  • My teachers always say hi.
  • Our teachers and the principal take care of me.
  • When people say thank you after I help them with something. 
  • Just feeling welcome to come into a classroom with a message.
  • Playing with me,  including in games.
  •  If I have for gotten anything the teachers won't get angry they will just help me.
  • When someone helps me with my learning and with some hard times I'm going through.
  • Teachers help me with my problems in between my friends and i.
  • The teachers are caring. 

When asked to comment further one student wrote this;

“I think this learning course and schedule that you follow is appropriate and acceptable for all ages. Is not time consuming and is very educational. I may suggest less revision as some people may still remember and know all about the topic from last year or the year before. I also will support you on the idea of different groups based on skill-level and others. Despite those few flaws in this school I think it is a great experience and most people learnt here will get a good job and salary that will make them successful in life. I will never forget my time here at St Xaviers.” 

 

I love their honesty and how deeply many of our students think. As the Living Well learning Well Framework states, “the children are complex little human beings and we are the highly skilled, paid adults.” 

 

We must have a universal and unconditional positive regard for children and young people, and a high regard for the collective capacity of a school staff team to increase learning, wellbeing and life-opportunity outcomes for children and young people.

 

We look forward to seeing parents back on school grounds in some capacity next term. You will be notified by email as to the arrangements. 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and a great break with your loved ones. 

Kind regards,

Jen

 

 

Kind regards,

Jen