From the Principal

Open Day Success

Many thanks to all involved in last weekend’s very engaging Open Day. We had over 800 visitors which made the event a resounding success. Many of our guests commented favourably on the excellent student participation and their obvious enthusiasm for the College. Our staff are also to be commended for their professionalism and commitment. We also had over 40 parent volunteers which again reinforces the wonderful partnership between students, parents and staff.

 

As an aside we have received positive feedback on the changes to our Newsletter format. Interestingly, 67% of our readers are accessing the Newsletter via a phone or other portable device emphasising the necessity of our communication being compatible with those devices.

The Wisdom Of Youth

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Primary School Assembly hosted by Year 5 Gold and their teacher, Miss Talea Graves.

The class very creatively role played the notion of ‘resilience’. Their excellent suggestions are recorded below:

 

R stands for respond to problems appropriately

E stands for endure tough situations

S stands for stick up for yourself

I stands for identify the problem

L stands for let go of negativity

I stands for independently solve problems

E stands for expect the unexpected

N stands for never give up

T stands for take responsibility for your actions

 

As adults we sometimes over complicate situations and there was great wisdom in the presentation.

 

As I was listening to our Year 5s, I reflected on ideasfrom an American author, Robert Fulgham. In 1988 he wrote about leadership and suggested that the basic principles of leadership can be learned from a very young age:

What I learned in Kindergarten:

• Share everything.

• Play fair.

• Don’t hit people.

• Put things back where you found them.

• Clean up your own mess.

• Don’t take things that aren’t yours.

• Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.

• Wash your hands before you eat.

• Flush.

• Warm biscuits and cold milk are good for you.

• Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

• Take a nap every afternoon.

• When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and   stick together.

Winter Uniform 

We have had some enquiries with respect to the change into Winter Uniform. We would like to confirm that Winter Uniform is to be worn from the commencement of Term Two. A decision has been made to make our changeover dates simple – Terms Two and Three for Winter Uniform and Terms One and Four for summer uniform. If the weather is warm at the start of Term Two we will show common sense with blazer requirements and communicate accordingly with families.

 

Together, let us seek justice.

Yours sincerely

 

Robert Henderson

Principal