Principal Report

Principal Message – Term 1

First Principal’s Message Week 4 Term 1 2022

It has been a lovely start to the school year, and I believe everyone is settling back into familiar routines that school offers. As the term progresses there will be many new opportunities and different challenges for our children to cope and deal with. Being able to navigate these moments and to take it all in their stride, will provide valuable life lessons for our children which is instrumental to building their social and emotional capital.

Wellbeing was the key factor for not delaying the return to school in January. And I have to say it was with such a relief that we were able to begin the school year as close to ‘normal’ as possible. I say that because school is different. There are things that we have had to adapt to and take on that just weren’t part of our ‘norm’ two years ago. I think our children and staff have shown great resilience considering the raft of changes and uncertainty that they have had to deal with.

At St Columba’s we have always had a very strong emphasis on Social Emotional Learning and resilience is one of the key areas we see as vital to continue to focus on. 

A recent study led by researchers from the University of Queensland highlighted that anxiety amongst children has been consistently rising, not surprising considering the last two years, but what is a surprise is the rate at which it was occurring pre-pandemic. The pandemic it seems has exacerbated something that was becoming increasingly prevalent amongst children and young people particularly in Australia.

When we are comfortable in our surroundings, when we know the rules, when we know the expectations then we begin to feel at ease and at home. It means we feel comfortable, and we know how things work and how we fit into the bigger picture. At the beginning of the school year this is so important and that is why we have placed such an emphasis on relationships and connection to school and peers particularly within the first few weeks of this year; explicitly teaching key social and emotional skills that will help children navigate relationships, play and social norms.

Study after study demonstrates that children who are able to talk about their emotions and who are exposed to failure and loss at a young age are better equipped to deal with a variety of challenges as they grow. Children exposed to safe risks are happier, less anxious and more able to handle everyday problems such as rejection, teasing and failure. These are key underlying factors for success at school and later in life. 

Happy, safe learners have better outcomes in school and in life; if you wish to be reductive, they are greater economic contributors. (tes magazine, Mike Buchanan, 2018.)

No matter how much we want to shield children from tough times and experiences, the road ahead will be rocky. For children to develop the skills and aptitudes that they will need to manage the range of challenging situations later in life, it is important that they have the opportunity to navigate their challenges for themselves within a supportive environment. And where better to do this – at home and at school supported by the people who care and want the best for them.