Principal's Log

At the Friends of Pacific meeting this week, we reflected on the important role that parents play in helping young people to become good planners and decision makers. Home learning is an area that parents can have growing conversations with their young people. In home learning, it is helpful for the young person to break down what needs to be done into smaller, manageable steps on a weekly and daily basis. It has been found helpful to start each night with something small that is enjoyable and then tackle the learning that is more challenging for a longer period of set time before finishing with something that is of moderate challenge. Starting with something that has a tight defined timeline and where success can be experienced helps to build momentum. Providing a well lit and ventilated space and having routines that support home learning can also assist the young person in developing good habits of prioritising, planning and persisting. Developing the internal capacity of self-motivation rather than relying on external rewards also stands a young person in good stead as they grow towards greater independence. 

Pacific is tremendously enriched by the involvement of parents in so many different areas. There are opportunities to assist in classrooms, to coach and manage sport teams, to support different club and special interest areas, to attend information evenings and community events. The College is also quite intentional in providing online resources to assist parents of older children to support the young person in their study and career planning. One of the ways to stay abreast of the range of opportunities open to both young people and their parents is the detailed reading of the newsletter each week. Through the discussion with parents on Tuesday night it became apparent that it would be helpful to provide an overview of these many and varied opportunities that parents and students can access on an as needs basis. We thank all of our parents for the important part they play in shaping Pacific as a great village for young people to thrive within and encourage parents to take advantage of ongoing opportunities to make a difference.

We congratulate our primary and secondary swimming teams for their spirited performances at the Independent Schools District Swim Carnivals last week. We extend our best wishes to all those going on to the regional trials and thank Mr Darren Hooper, Mr Brett Kersnovske, Mrs Natalie Campbell and Mrs Fiona Schefe for their organisation and leadership of students.

May God guide us and equip us with wisdom and discernment to choose small steps that make a difference.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal