What does it mean to really achieve?

During the past week, I was listening to a podcast around the topic of what we, as humans can learn from the comic strip, Charlie Brown. In “Peanuts” the central character, Charlie Brown is forever coming up against a world full of challenges and overcoming obstacles constantly presenting themselves. It delves into his everyday struggle and resilience in overcoming what life continually throws at him. The overwhelming opinion of the podcast was that it is through the experiences of “losing” that we grow and incrementally, failure is a far greater teacher than success. When faced with a challenge, we can throw ourselves on the ground, or we can throw ourselves into conquering what is before us. 

Our overarching focus for this term in You Can Do It is on achievement and particularly the valuing of individual differences and celebrating the unique set of skills that each of us contributes to the College. In Pacific Way, we will investigate the “we” component and how we collaborate and work toward our own expectations of achievement. Like all pursuits worth doing, accomplishment takes time. They are a continual work in progress and require persistence, resilience, and energy from all sides to meet goals.

Sometimes we fail to meet the goals and expectations that we expect for ourselves and can falter, and we learn valuable lessons about ourselves and each other. A favourite quote of mine is from Ash Barty that summed this thinking up “I never lost, I learnt.” Forgiveness and reflection are crucial in rebuilding our expectations when they may falter. But our achievements must be tempered by understanding that our successes don’t define us and that all of us are uniquely worthy.

In the past, I have listened to industry leaders speak about how best to prepare students for life beyond school; their primary focus tends to be on attributes rather than specific skill sets. They want people who can collaborate productively, problem-solve effectively, and empathise with others. Separating our triumphs from our worth is essential and what our pastoral care program here at Pacific, seeks to achieve.

A final word of reflection that sums this notion up is from a Year 5 student that was shared as part of a leadership day last term;

“As a community, we must respect, accept and indulge differences. People are all different, so do not correct people for their personality, instead, cherish the feeling and grow together.”

ANZAC Day

On Wednesday morning, our Junior College gathered to commemorate the sacrifices provided by our servicemen and women through the years and in an ongoing capacity in situations around the globe.

As the number of veterans dwindles it is important for young people to not only remember the sacrifices of the past but to accept the responsibility for continuing this legacy of remembrance into the future.

Thank you to the many families that attended the Anzac March in Caloundra on Tuesday. It was especially heart-warming to see many Prep students attending for the first time and beginning a tradition that will continue to grow through their time in the College.

Bringing resources to the College.

With the restriction to COVID-19 now relaxed, students are beginning to bring in resources from home. Students are enjoying the return to normality, however, we are encouraging the bringing in of cards, such as Pokémon, to be brought in with some limitations. It is essential that these activities are limited and that students are free to move, exercise and use their bodies fully in the playground. As a result, these cards will be limited to Fridays. All students and staff are aware of this, and we will continue to educate our students on this expectation.

Take care and God bless.

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