HEAD OF SECONDARY SCHOOL

Over the first half of the term, the College has been a hive of activity for both students and staff. Consistently, there are a wide range of activities that have taken place that have required detailed planning and commitment. Most recently, the Competitive and Non-Competitive Swimming Carnivals were excellent events thanks to the organisation of Mrs Kjaer and the support she received from Ms Johnson and Mr Howard. These Secondary School activities provide a great opportunity for our students to be involved in a variety of events regardless of their skills. I would like to extend my thanks to Mrs Kjaer and Ms Johnson and all our other staff members who supported them.

At this stage of a term, I tend to reflect on the busyness of schools and the impact this has on staff and students. Often, a sense of fatigue sets into the community, particularly with students, and has the potential to impact their educational outcomes. This is a normal part of the term and year but it is important to consider how we approach this issue with our students. The remnants of COVID-19 present added complexities to this time.

Children face some of their most challenging times at high school. Those six years often present choices in which students face the challenge of choosing whether to persevere or give up. They are balancing friendships, school work, social changes and many more events pulling them in different directions. Students will experience lulls in their capacity to “push through” certain events. This time at any term presents one of these lulls.

 However, it is here that we can support children in developing their capacity to persevere. 

In my experience, the capacity for students to develop perseverance comes down to their experience in making choices. Specifically, to choose a path that challenges them to learn and grow, or the path that allows them to remain the same. It can be easy to choose the path that lets us stay the same. It allows them to avoid feeling uncomfortable, anxious, stressed or incompetent. It can also be easy for us as their carers to take away that choice, helping them to avoid those negative feelings. However, if we do not challenge our children they cannot continue to grow. 

As teachers and parents, it is up to us to support the children in our care to face these experiences head on. We can provide them with advice and guidance, but ultimately our children will learn from the experience of making the choice. To support our students, it is important that we continue to communicate regularly. The House system is set up directly to support students. The earlier we find out information the more time we have to help them. It is in these harder times that children can learn the most about themselves. As I wrote in my last article, our role is to support children through the challenges of their youth so that they may develop the skills necessary to be successful in life after school.

Looking forward, the College has the Athletics Carnival on Friday 19 March. This is yet another great opportunity for House culture to continue to develop in the College. I encourage all of our students to be involved as spiritedly as they were during the Swimming Carnival.

Christopher Ingold | Head of Secondary School