Principal’s Log

This week on assemblies across P-12, we have shared the benefit of being able to name emotions as a means to begin the process of shifting from our reactive downstairs brains to our reflective and decision-making upstairs brains. Being aware of our thinking and emotions is an important element in growing self-regulation for people of all ages. Dr Brenda Heyworth’s presentation to staff and to parents also focused on building awareness and capability to make choices as adults and to be conscious of growing capability in young people to be aware of their emotions and to grow in their capacity to make more effective choices.  The Middle and Senior College staff appreciated the opportunity to gain greater insights into working effectively with neurodiverse students and parents greatly valued the opportunity to learn of ways they could grow young people and better relationships through not entering “the jungle”. We thank Dr Heyworth for her entertaining and thought provoking presentations and staff and parents for their engagement. We will be providing an opportunity for our Prep-Year 5 staff to work with Dr Heyworth at a later time.

Later in the newsletter, our Year 8 Pacific Plus students have shared the projects they have chosen to investigate. We celebrate the quality of thinking and learning and diversity of exploration that our Year 8 students are engaging with and thank Mrs Jo Belchamber and Miss Adelle Byerlee for the encouragement of these rich opportunities.

We congratulate our Junior Water polo teams who have all grown through their involvement in the Primary Schools Water Polo competition held on a Monday afternoon this term. We congratulate the PLC Year 3 and 4 team who won silver in their division and all students for their growth. Thank you to our parents and to coaches Mr Scott Crompton, Mrs Melanie Percival and Ms Madison Dindas-Kirkwood for their encouragement and leadership of these teams.

Students will be receiving feedback through assessments and parent, student and teacher conferences. Taking personal responsibility and learning to see feedback as an important part of learning is key to our growth. Rather than focusing on the grade, a conversation for all students on identifying one or two things that they can do to improve their learning helps to grow this habit of encouraging growth through feedback. In doing so, we learn important habits of focusing on what we can influence to make a difference and make the most of the learning opportunities provided by assessment and feedback. Naming emotions that may be blocking this important reflection opportunity can help to shift the brain and thereby conversation into a growth mindset and mode. Even if we are a 2 out of 10 how do we move to a 3?

We thank God for His unconditional love and forgiveness that enables us to start afresh in each moment. Help us to be people who first seek to understand.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal