Moving with our Emotions

This week we will continue our journey through the storeys of our mind and revisit the role our emotions play in our lives. From time to time, all of us experience what we might call “big emotions.” As we mature, we are more adept at identifying and recognising how these feelings may occur and how we might deal with them. However, this is a gradual process and for younger children it can be challenging when these big emotions appear.

Managing emotions and recognising heat moments, have a big bearing on how the brain processes different situations. Perhaps the easiest way to explain this is by using the analogy of an upstairs and a downstairs brain.

The downstairs brain includes lower regions of the brain that are responsible for basic functions (like breathing and blinking) as well as impulses and emotions (like anger and fear). The upstairs brain is responsible for more intricate mental processes like planning, decision-making, self-awareness, empathy and morality. When a child’s upstairs brain is functioning well, they are more likely to be able to slow down, think before they act, regulate emotions, self-soothe and consider others’ feelings and perspectives — all important areas of healthy human functioning.

While the downstairs brain with its strong emotions and impulses is fully built and functioning in young children, the upstairs brain is unfinished and is still under construction well into a person’s twenties. Our job as adults in kid’s lives is to support the integration of the downstairs and upstairs regions of kids’ brains.

In many ways, we are building our resilience. This is not always easily done. On assembly, our students were reminded of the many options that we have when faced with an emotional challenge. Breathing, talking and remaining positive are simple ways to get through a challenge.

I had the pleasure of sitting through a circle time with the Year 2’s during the week. It is always, refreshing to hear and see the insights that very young people have about the situations that they are presented with. In the circle, a student stated that he used his inner voice to calm himself down when things got too much. Such wise and sage advice!

Uniform and Expectations

I would like to take the opportunity to thank all students and parents for their support of the college uniform policy. How we manage our uniform expectations shows the community about how we present and care for self. Students have been reminded about expectations regarding hair and accessories this week. All hair past the shoulders must be tied back with hair bands in line with the colours of the college. Shoes and socks must match the uniform of the day.

Book week

Thank you to the many students and staff for the effort it required to organise their costumes on Monday. They were amazing! Thank you to all the parents and guardians who helped their children prepare for the day, and extra special thanks to the library team for their co-ordination and organisation.

Take care and God Bless,

Mr Damian Davis, Head of Staff and Students K-5