From the Principal 

Close enough is not good enough.

This week, Dr Andrew Bradbeer shared with our boarders the important role ‘sleep’ has in enabling them to happily reach their academic, sporting and personal potential.  In the past, Dr Bradbeer has insisted to parents: Your children probably understand more about ‘sleep hygiene’ than you do, body clock issues and how to filter blue and green light from computer screens.  They know that use of internet-connected hand-held devices in bedrooms is disruptive to their sleep.  They know that if they get enough good quality sleep then they will be less anxious, happier, faster, more accurate, less prone to injury and perform better academically – particularly at maths.  They know that sleep, along with nutrition and exercise, is a pillar of health.  They know what sort of behaviours and environment will help them to sleep well. But as dependent teenagers they have limited ability to control these factors.  They need (and want) help from the adults in their lives to do this.    Your role as parents is vitally important to help your child fulfil their potential.  Good sleep, nutrition and exercise are all critical considerations as they grow. 

Similarly, at College, we aim to work in partnership with all families to ensure that students perform at their best during the school day. Hence, an additional trait, I encourage all families to place value on is the importance of a strong work ethic.  I believe that most of our children became lazy over the period of remote learning as rightly ‘survival’ was their major focus.  However, as we return to a new normal at school, only hard work will develop their potential.  Only hard work will nurture their given intelligence.  Only hard work will enable them to embrace the enormous opportunities that lay before them and lay ahead.  The staff have been directed to not accept mediocrity in the classroom and we seek your support at home to challenge your children to strive harder. Close enough is not good enough.

Finally, our Easter Service is being held Wednesday week 6 April at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church at 2.00pm.  The Hamilton and Alexandra College has a proud association with the Uniting Church and strongly embraces the Christian message. The Easter Service’s dress code is blazer, tie and long pants for boys and blazer and summer dress for girls and students are requested to bring a gold coin for the collection. If you would like to join us, please contact Reception.

Dr Andrew Hirst

Principal