From the Principal
From time to time it is worth taking the opportunity to reflect on the key values that underpin our School. Preshil does not hold to arbitrary rules, sanctions and a system of authority based on a hierarchical power; we don’t use many of the systems schools have traditionally used to keep order, reward or punish behaviour.
Preshil has a very clear set of policies which are based on a strong commitment to mutual respect and we need to ensure these are honoured.
Our mutual respect policy outlines the sort of community we want to nurture and celebrate in the day-to-day culture of the School. We want a school where every individual is respected, safe and able to be themselves and where everyone understands the responsibility that is required of them, to allow others the same rights. ‘Being yourself' must not impact negatively on someone else’s right to be themselves. This is the social contract we all need to support if Preshil is to be the safe and supportive environment we desire.
Our belief is that everyone needs to show leadership – and this is encapsulated in the School’s motto of Courage; in particular, the courage to question.
At Preshil, student leadership has never been about being a prefect or a captain; certain students are not selected as having a set of particularly desirable leadership qualities to be cultivated and privileged. Our belief is that everyone needs the opportunity to show leadership – and this is encapsulated in our motto.
We want our students to feel empowered to seek help when they need it. Margaret Lyttle is often quoted as reminding teachers, students and parents that “all behaviour has meaning”. She wanted everyone to appreciate that bullying does not come from a place of happiness or confident individuality and that people who bully do so to fulfil some deficit within themselves. Regardless of the motivation for bullying, our society has had an overwhelming opportunity to recognise the impact that bullying, entitlement and harassment has on victims in so many different contexts.
We call on all our families to support our efforts to safeguard students. This requires all adults to remind their children that the simple intervention – That’s Not OK – is a powerful element in protecting everyone and is the basis for the community we all want Preshil to be.
Natalie Jensen
Interim Principal