Embracing Emotions

Welcome back to all families for the commencement of Term 3 and a new semester. In particular, we warmly welcome all new students and their families as you become a valued member of the College community. We are thankful that all students were back on campus from day one. Indeed, this simple measure on its own may be sufficient to allow students to feel safe and comfortable as they engage in learning and re-connect with each other and their teachers. Of course, we all need to continue to remind ourselves and our young people of the various guidelines in place as outlined by the Principal in her letter to all families during the holidays on Monday 29th June.

Emotions, Feelings and Moods

One of the great things about working with young people is that they bring a vibrancy to the community. The challenge is to continue to build their social and emotional competency such that they have the capacity to self-regulate. One of the major ways we can support students in this regard is to increase their emotional literacy. Emotions are a physical interpretation of something we have experienced. They are brief, perhaps only lasting a second. Happiness, joy, disgust and anger are some of the basic emotions we might experience depending on the stimulus. Feelings are the mental interpretations of the emotion. They are longer lasting and are something we sense. Whilst moods are more general in nature and are a mixture of emotion and feelings, which can last for days.

Crucially, it is important that we all appreciate the need for both positive and negative emotions in our lives. We need to accentuate the positive as well as validate the negative. Given that we are programmed to experience negative emotions more strongly, research informs us that, as a minimum for our wellbeing, for every negative emotion we need to experience three positive ones. Fortunately, there are a range of strategies to support a positive mindset which are accessible for all ages. Two simple ways are avoiding the use of defeating language and maintaining a gratitude journal. Consequently, whilst we are cognisant of what is occurring outside of our students’ control, it is important to continue to encourage our young people to control what they can and that starts with how they respond to the many and varied experiences they will have this term.

Uniform guidelines

A polite reminder that students are to be wearing their full winter formal uniform. Students are also expected to continue adhering to the make-up, jewellery and hair guidelines that have been in place since the start of the year. Please connect with your child’s PHG teacher or Head of House in the first instance if you require any further clarification.

Mr Ben Ryan, Director of Students