Chaplain’s Spot

Chaplain’s 2020 Spot

Andrew Fuller’s tips for a great ‘future’                                                                               

On February 3rd, I received an email from Generation Next, which focusses on Mental Health & Wellbeing of young people. This was sent before the whole world was affected by COVID-19. I thought that it might be helpful to consider these tips, now that we are slowly moving out of restrictions. 

Andrew Fuller’s 13 tips to set yourself up for a great year

Make this the year that you will remember for the rest of your life as the time you really set yourself on the pathway to success. There are several sure-fire ways to make this a great year.

1. Build positive relationships with everyone you know: Parents, teachers, friends, everyone! One way to reduce stress levels is to set out to have as many positive friendships this year as you can.
2. Challenge yourself: You are much smarter than you know. If you practice doing your best you will succeed. If you look for what works, life just gets a lot easier.
3. Prepare yourself for learning: Thinking positive isn’t enough for successfully achieving goals. Implement ways to reduce distractions, at least for a few hours at a time..
4. Get enough sleep: Getting enough sleep helps you to manage stress, stay happy and also increases your marks. You need at least 8 hours and sometimes as much as 9 and a quarter hours a night.
5. Eat breakfast: A lot of people skip breakfast, but you often learn best at school in the morning and it helps to have some protein to feed your brain. A lack of protein can actually cause headaches.
6. Do the most important things first: Write a to-do list each week. Ask yourself the question, “What is the one thing I could do this week that would improve my results?” Then do it.
7. Use your time well: Many people muck around and then wonder why they have to do so much work at home. If you can focus and listen well while at school you can save yourself endless hours.
8. From little things big things grow: Do a little bit often. The best learning occurs when you do repetitive interval training, especially in subjects like maths and the sciences.
9. Focus and immerse yourself: For at least some time every day switch off all forms of technology and focus on whatever you’re studying.
10. Don’t try to predict the future: Most students are really bad at predicting how well they are going to do.  Just do the most important things first and do them regularly.
11. Be curious: Think of someone you know who always seems to know interesting things. Try to be one of these people. Look out for and learn things that are fun and interesting.
12. Play more: Get active. If you’ve been sitting in one place for a while, stand up and stretch, move your legs. Exercise gets your blood flowing and sharpens concentration and recall.
13. Decide to be happy: Lots of people wait to be happy. Decide to be happy now. Have a look at the people and things for which you are thankful. Make the most of the moment and seize the day.

Have a fantastic year!– Andrew Fuller

Offer of the week

As I have been walking during the last few weeks, I have seen many windows and footpaths adorned with drawings of rainbows. The rainbow is a symbol of hope, just like in the original Bible story about Noah and the ark. People in our community have chosen an attitude of hope. This makes a huge difference in how we cope with such challenges. Here are a couple of rainbows of hope for you.

I have included my Chaplaincy Consent form with below, in case you would like your child to be able to meet with me, especially regarding the COVID-19 impact. Feel free to contact me.  

Alan Silverwood – Chaplain - Pastoral care for our community.

[silverwood.alan.l@edumail.vic.gov.au] Supporting the School community in emotional, social, spiritual and practical wellbeing. The Chaplaincy program is funded through Federal Government & Community support including; CCCVaT, Great Ryrie Primary School Council and local private and community donations.