From the Principal's Desk

BEING ON TIME AND BEING INDEPENDENT: RESPECT FOR OTHERS

Being on time and being independent are two of the most important values that parents can teach children when they are young. 

Being on time is vital in later life when children take on jobs and have to be at work at a certain time.  Being on time shows that you respect other people and their time constraints.

Being independent builds children’s confidence and respect for themselves.  Parents/carers think they are helping their children when they carry their bags and do things for them that they could easily do for themselves.  This could not be further from reality.

Research shows that children from families where they have to do things for themselves, such as preparing their own lunch and/or snack for school, making their own beds, carrying their bags and doing chores around the house are shown to be much more resilient that those children who have everything done for them. 

FACT: Many children struggle on a daily basis because they have little or no resilience when things do not go their way. They are not able to bounce back! 

Schools spend a lot of time and money on providing experiences which build resilience but they cannot do it alone.  They need parents/carers to work with them.  Some simple things parents/carers can do:

• Expect your child to get up, dressed, clean teeth, eat breakfast and be on time for school
• Expect your child to carry their own bag to and from school
• Expect your child to make their bed when they get out of it
• Expect your child to help with simple chores around the house – have specific chores to do each day/week
• Expect your child to look after their own belongings

There is a very wise saying that I often use in school.  Children will give you what you expect/accept.  Set your expectations low and they will most certainly meet them.  Set your expectations higher (not too high) and they will strive to achieve them, gradually increasing what you expect. 

Children who are confident in their own ability to be able to have a go and achieve things are more likely to be resilient children.  This is what teachers want for students at Athol Road – to be more resilient so they can confidently face life’s challenges – not everything goes their way and they need to be able to bounce back when things are not going well, recognising that it is part of life’s cycle.

If you are already doing these things – good on you – keep it up. 

If you are not doing these things, start small and build – your child will be better for it.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM): MONDAY, 27th MARCH at 6.00pm

The Annual General meeting is open to all parents.  The Draft Annual Report is presented at the AGM and covers a summary of:

• School Context
• Progress towards strategic goals, student outcomes and student engagement
• Learning
• Wellbeing
• Engagement
• Other school highlights
• Financial performance
• Performance summary data on:
  • School Profile
  • Learning
  • Wellbeing
  • Engagement
  • Financial Performance and Position