Strength and Safety

Welcome back to Term Four 2023, and a warm welcome to families new to Pacific this term. Term Four is always such a busy term, and we look forward to engaging with the numerous events and celebrations that the end of the year brings. It was wonderful to be surrounded by the busyness and industry of the students returning to class this week.

Social and Emotional Blockers

I, like many of you, sat transfixed over the weekend as the AFL, NRL and NRLW grand finals played out. All were amazing contests and a testament to the dedication and application of all teams.

When watching sports at such a high level, I am always amazed at the attitude that is displayed by individuals when events during a game don’t always go the way they are intended to. Time and time again, we see players missing the goal or dropping a ball. At the time, such small errors can be crucial, but continually we see the mental toughness of these players to leave that circumstance quickly and move on to what is in front of them.

This quick realisation that what has just transpired cannot be changed is evident for all to see. Sure, after the event, it may require further examination, but at the time, the mental determination to move on is crucial to ongoing success in the future. These mindsets flow nicely into our You Can Do It messaging this term.

This term in our You Can Do It program, we will be focusing on social and emotional blockers. These can be defined as worrying, feeling down or angry, getting hung up on negative experiences and procrastinating. They are called "blockers", as they can sometimes block our way forward to building success and striving to achieve. During the term, the students will be encouraged to become "lifesavers". The example pictured suggests that techniques for unblocking worries may include:

•          self-talk

•          choosing positive action

•          talking to someone and

•          calming down through actions and thoughts.

No one practice or method works for everyone. Our aim is to provide a range of strategies for our students to use when and where they are needed. This will continue to be covered in our Foundation and Junior Assemblies.

Keeping Safe In Our Neighbourhoods

On the 27^th of this month, the Day for Daniel will be recognised in schools across the Sunshine Coast and increasingly, across the state and country. It is a time to acknowledge the potential threats to our community and also to educate our students on ways that help to keep them safe.

Fortunately, examples of actual harm to our children in their neighbourhoods are rare, and our communities' connection is strong. Unfortunately, many of us are aware of the devastating impact that the disappearance of Daniel Morcombe had on his family and the community in general. In the passing years, his family have fought hard to make sure that his memory will live on through the foundation and every year the child safety message is communicated.

The foundation website, https://danielmorcombe.com.au/ has many resources about how we may equip our children to understand and read signs that aim to keep them safe. These resources are age-appropriate and cover a range of topics and I encourage you to peruse the resources and discuss their contents with your children.

Take care, and God bless,

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