Rest Rejuvenation and Fun

It is important that we take time to rest, rejuvenate and have fun.  Through taking time to rest and have fun, our bodies and brains have time to recover and refresh and we live our life in full colour.  Ensuring we get enough sleep daily, enables us to fight infections, conserve energy, consolidate memories, enhance brain development and discharge emotions through dreaming.  During holidays getting outdoors, exercising, connecting physically with people and nature, reading books, doing something new and different also refreshes us both physically and mentally.  Through taking proper breaks we improve our memory, capacity to think and creativity.  We become calmer, get better perspectives and make better judgments.  Disconnecting from devices and connecting with nature is particularly beneficial.

We are wired to rest.  It is worth noting that on the 7^th day God rested.  Jewish tradition also had a day of rest embedded in the weekly rhythm of life. 

Principal’s Log

Seeing assessments and reports as times for reflection and learning rather than a judgment is an important life skill to develop.  It is important to reflect on and celebrate the personal strengths or approaches that have aided learning to progress and then for the young person to reflect on the one thing that they can do to lift learning for each area.  Celebrating strengths, taking responsibility and a no excuses approach, helps young people to grow a sense of self-efficacy.  Personally, writing down short-term goals of actions for a specified time period also helps young people to build stepping stones of success that can be celebrated or adjusted.  A SMS will come out in the holiday period when reports are available through Student Café and Parent Lounge. Families are encouraged to sit together and have a learning focused conversation where there is good space for celebration, self-reflection from a strengths perspective and action. Please click here for instructions on how to access school reports…

At the end of the term we farewell and thank our College nurse Mrs Sophie Morton who has provided great care and support for many students, their families and staff. We also farewell and thank Mrs Romona Woods who has provided great support for the science learning of Middle and Senior College students in her role as Science Laboratory Assistant. Staff and students have appreciated her calm, patient professionalism in her role.  We wish both Mrs Morton and Mrs Woods all the best for their future paths.

We thank Ms Michelle McMillan who has very capably fulfilled the role of Acting Head of Middle College Teaching and Learning and Mrs Rae Hall the Acting Head of English over the first semester.  Both Ms McMillan and Mrs Hall have contributed strongly to the ongoing growth of students and staff in their respective roles.  Mrs Hall will return to the role of Head of Middle College Teaching and Learning as Mrs Cox returns as Head of English next term.

This term has seen young people engage in many opportunities that have enhanced growth in the academic, sporting, cultural, service, spiritual and wellbeing dimensions of their lives.  We thank staff, parents and students for their gifts of time and talent that have fostered this growth so richly.  We thank God for the many blessings he has brought into this community through its people and community connections.  We trust that everyone has a well-earned rest and returns rejuvenated for next term.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal