今日吃瓜

Newman News Term 3 Week 2: From the Deputy Principal Primary

Jo Dunn on 29/07/2022

Key Dates

鈥� In recent times, our school calendar has changed regularly.

Welcome back to Term 3 

A sincere welcome back to our Primary students and their families. Term 3 is always a busy one, and this year is proving to be no different. Our teachers are excited at the many things that lay ahead and have worked throughout the holiday break to successfully plan a range of wonderful initiatives for our students. We ask parents for their support and positivity as we enter this busy term 鈥� it is through positive partnership that we can affect great change.  

I ask parents to please ensure that their children are presented according to the 今日吃瓜 Uniform policy, paying particular attention to their hair, jewellery, shoes and that no non-uniform items (such as jackets, socks or scarves) are being worn with the uniform.  

Lavalla Assembly 

Well done to 4 Green students who delivered an outstanding assembly, 3 days into Term 3. Their Jack and the Beanstalk rap demonstrated the wonderful learning that has been occuring in their classroom, and showed that we have a number of future stage-stars in our midst.  

Well done to all those Merit Award winners whose commendation for their excellent work was well deserved.  

Mini-Marists 

Our Mini-Marists groups have recently been looking at service-learning opportunities within our school. Some of the initiatives that they have undertaken include cooking and crocheting blankets for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Solidarity appeal. They have also created a number of class awards that identify and celebrate those classes who undertake responsible and respectful behaviours across the school.

Book Week 

Each year across Australia, the Children鈥檚 Book Council of Australia brings children and books together to celebrate Book Week which takes place this year between 22 to 26 August 2022. During this time, students and teachers will celebrate Australian children鈥檚 literature, authors and illustrators.  

The theme of Book Week this year is, Dreaming with Eyes Open! 

  • Marian students are invited to come to school dressed up as their favourite book character on Thursday 25th August with the parade commencing at 9am in the Undercover Area.  
  • Lavalla students invited to come to school dressed up as their favourite book character on Friday 26th August with the parade commencing at 9am in the Auditorium. 

Kindergarten 2023 and 2024 

There are a very limited number of places remaining for our Kindergarten 2023 and 2024 program. 今日吃瓜 now offers a flexible Kindergarten offering, whereby families can select from a 3, 4 or 5-day kindy program for their child.  

If you, or a family member / friend was seeking a place for a child in Kindy 2023 or 2024, please get in contact with our Registrar, Jo Dunn as soon as possible via registrar@newman.wa.edu.au  

Pre-Kindergarten 2023 

There are a very limited number of places remaining for our Pre-Kindergarten 2023 program. Availability is now limited to Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.  

Families can select from a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5-day pre-kindy program for their child (subject to availability).  

If you, or a family member / friend was seeking a placement for Pre-Kindy 2023, please get in contact with our Registrar, Jo Dunn as soon as possible via registrar@newman.wa.edu.au 

Student Wellbeing 

Many years ago, when I was appointed to my first teaching position at St. Mary’s in Kalgoorlie, I was full of excitement and eagerness. I had studied to become a teacher because I knew, more than anything, that I wanted to positively impact the lives of young people. I had great visions of inspiring my students to be their best; to work hard, be respectful, and most of all, be good and kind humans to one another. I was ready to change the world! 馃檪 

However, what I wasn’t prepared for, was the way those 26 young students and their families would change me. I had presumed that I would be the difference maker in all things within our class – after all I was the teacher, the one charged with leading our class. But it only took a short time for me to realise this was not going to be a one way street. I grew to admire and respect my students, to listen to them, and to learn from them and the way their worlds unfolded. I was able to listen to and spend time with families in the classroom each morning, observing how they balanced a generous heart with firm guidance. I had begun that year thinking it was all on my shoulders to create a safe and supportive learning environment, when in fact all I had to do was play my role and allow others to do the same. 

Why do I share this story now? It is easy to think that the success of a school lies with the principal, or teachers, or the wellbeing team. However, more than ever, I have come to realise that the success of a student, class, or school, rests with every person in that community. Each person has the power to impact the life of another. Just think about that for a moment.  Whether you are a young student in Kindy, a teacher, or a parent, every interaction or word spoken can change someone’s day, and the way they feel about themselves. Just imagine…when you get up tomorrow morning you have the opportunity to change lives! This is an amazing gift we are given each day…but what do we do with that gift?  

My message to students as we return to begin a new term has been simple – use your power for good. Create a positive difference for someone in our community, and don’t be afraid to do the same at home too. 今日吃瓜 is a beautiful community of students and families because many of us recognise the power we have and use it wisely. My great hope for students is that they come to realise this too –  to go the extra mile for each other, and continue to support and accept one another. We all have the power to make a difference.   

I hope that all students and families have a wonderful Term 3 where they can be impacted by the kindness and generosity of others. And yes…I am still full of excitement and eagerness every time that new school year comes upon us, while the list of those who have impacted me grows longer each year.  

Stuart McClorey 
Leader of Wellbeing PK-6 

Newman News Term 3 Week 2: From the Vice Principal

Jo Dunn on 29/07/2022

Welcome Back 

A warm welcome back to school for all our Newman families. I hope you found some time over the holidays to relax and enjoy being together away from the busyness of the normal school routine.  

On day one of the term, our staff engaged in Faith Formation Professional Learning. We spent time together learning about aspects of inclusion relevant to our theme for 2022, 鈥楰nown and Loved dignity for all鈥�. This learning included an examination with Marist Brother, Br Tony Leon of what love actually is, and how it manifests as a choice or commitment to the wellbeing of the other, in line with the wellbeing of self. Staff engaged in workshop style high impact learning sessions that explored topics such as first nations people, gender and gender diversity, mental health, cry of the earth, living in poverty, displaced people and invisible in a digital age.  

The start of this term was particularly challenging due to the technical difficulties we experienced during the first couple of days. I would like to express our gratitude to parents and students for the patience and understanding that was shown during this time, especially with regard to the Parent Teacher interviews. It was fortunate that these difficulties did not significantly impact the student learning.  

New Staff 

We welcome the following new staff to the College Community and Marist family 

Secondary Science Teacher: Gina Thornberry 

Secondary Science Teacher: Helen Williamson 

College Events Coordinator: Karla Nessfield-Thomas  

Part-time Pre-Kindy Teacher: Delia Kretzmann  

Digital Innovation Coordinator: Joel Kandiah  

Italian Teacher: Maria Famiano  

Leader of People and Culture: Nicole Luckman  

Food Science and Technology Secondary Teacher: Emily Mincherton 

Ongoing Leader of Wellbeing: Scott Smith 

Staff Concluding 

Primary School Music Teacher Annette Grayden has resigned this term. We thank Annette for her contribution and wish her well in her future endeavours. 

Wellbeing Week 

During Week 4, teachers and students will come together to engage in activities, lessons and professional learning designed to support the wellbeing of the College community.  

We recognise the importance of education, raising awareness and providing opportunities for students to develop their own wellbeing and to contribute to and participate in our flourishing community. We look forward to working together to enhance our individual and collective wellbeing. We are calling for parents or students to submit appreciation or gratitude messages to our staff to be delivered on our Staff Wellbeing Day. To enter a message please complete this .  

College Production 

The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory company are excited to have begun rehearsals and preparation for five fabulous performances this September. Our cast of students from Years 4 to 12, will treat you to a wonderful night of entertainment, with something for the whole family!  

The world-famous Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his mysterious factory鈥ut only to a lucky few. Young Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a life-changing journey through Wonka鈥檚 world of pure imagination, including chocolate waterfalls, nutty squirrels and the great glass elevator, all to be revealed by Wonka鈥檚 army of curious Oompa-Loompas. 

Based on the famous novel by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features an original score composed by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray) and a book by David Greig. The score also pays homage to the Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley score from the 1971 film with songs from the motion picture including 鈥淐andy Man,鈥� 鈥淚鈥檝e Got a Golden Ticket,鈥� 鈥淥ompa Loompa Song,鈥� and 鈥淧ure Imagination.鈥� 

Tickets are going fast, with over 50% sold. So be sure to secure your tickets to a night of pure imagination!  

 15/09/22 Opening night: 6.30pm  

16/09/22 Performance 2: 6.30pm  

17/05/22 Performance 3: 11.00am  

17/09/22 Performance 4: 6.30pm  

18/09/22 Performance 5: 11.00am

Catholic Performing Arts Festival  

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Opening Mass of the Catholic Performing Arts Festival. The Festival offers both primary and secondary school students the opportunity to perform in front of a public audience and receive some very useful feedback from experienced adjudicators. Categories include choral, instrumental, drama, musical, vocal and dance. 今日吃瓜 supports this event to ensure our students have a platform where they can demonstrate the fruits of their hard work and showcase their talents. We wish all the performers well for their upcoming events. 

Christmas in July Evening 

On July 22 over 100 parents joined us for our Christmas in July gathering held in the transformed winter wonderland of the St John Henry Newman Learning Hub. It was a very enjoyable evening and gave parents the opportunity to socialise with each other and staff members in a relaxed setting. 

Assumption Day Activities 11 August  

The Feast Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Feast Day chosen for the Patronal Feast of the Marist Brothers is Monday 15 August. To mark the significance of these events, our K-12 Community will come together in celebration on Thursday 11 August.  As one of 54 Marist schools across Australia, the Feast Day of the Assumption is an opportunity to gather, give thanks to the Marist Brothers, and celebrate our shared Marist identity.  

Information about this important event was emailed to parents on Monday July 25. Please see a copy here. 

PISA is coming to our school! 

Our school is participating in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which is taking place in Australian between 18 July and 9 September 2022. Our PISA will occur on Thursday 25 August and will include a collection of Year 10 and 11 students.  

PISA is an important part of the National Assessment Program in Australia, which is the measure through which governments, education authorities and schools can determine whether young Australians are meeting important educational outcomes. All Australian Education Ministers have agreed to Australian schools鈥� participation in PISA, which is reflected in the Australian Education Act 2013. 

Students Who Have Participated in State and National Representation

The College would like to recognise and celebrate the achievements of those students who have represented their team, sport, or activity at a state or national level. If your child has participated in an activity that falls within that category, we would love to hear from you. 鈥赌�

Newman Parents Committee (NPC) 

All parents are invited to our next NPC meeting on Wednesday August 10 from 5.45pm – 7pm in the Marcellin St John Henry Newman Learning Hub. We will be finalising our Executive Parent Committee in the coming weeks, and we thank all those parents who submitted an expression of interest. The Executive Committee will be announced at the next NPC.听

Parent Teacher Communication Protocols

Parents are reminded that the most efficient鈥痑nd effective鈥痬ethod鈥痜or鈥痗ontacting teachers and support staff is through the staff member鈥檚 email address.鈥疘n most cases, our staff鈥痺ill鈥痳espond to the鈥痗ommunication鈥痑s鈥痑ppropriate, within 48 hours.   

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

  • year of schooling
  • category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
  • level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

  • formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
  • consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
  • develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified 鈥� the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the ().   Further information about the NCCD can be found on the (). If you have any questions about the NCCD at Newman, please contact the Vice Principal, Dr Lucie McCrory on lucie.mccrory@newman.wa.edu.au

Key Dates 

Y7-12 Guild Athletics Carnival: Thursday August 4 

Bishop鈥檚 Religious Literacy Assessments: Monday August 1 to Thursday August 4 

Wellbeing Week: Monday August 8 to Thursday August 11 

Winter Music Night: Monday August 8 

Newman Parents Committee Meeting: Wednesday August 8  

Assumption/Buddy Day: Thursday August 11 

Pupil Free Days: Friday August 12 and Monday August 15 

Code of Conduct

Newman News Term 3 Week 2: From the Principal

Jo Dunn on 29/07/2022

Dear Parents and Guardians

Welcome to Term 3.  Our first couple of days this term presented the challenge of having no internet or phones.  I take this opportunity to thank those parents who attended our parent teacher interviews and for your patience with the break in technology, which also affected surrounding suburbs.  Fortunately, services resumed on the first day of school and our start to the term has been relatively smooth.

I hope families enjoyed some time together over the recent break and that everyone has returned refreshed and ready for a new term.

今日吃瓜 Principal 2023

Congratulations to Mr Andrew Watson who has been appointed to lead 今日吃瓜 from Term 2 2023.  Andrew is currently the Principal of Mazenod College in Lesmurdie.  Andrew visited the College at the commencement of this term to meet with staff and was reconnected with some of those who were at Newman when he was Head of Society and Environment in the late 1990s.

Andrew is a well-known and highly regarded leader in Catholic education and we look forward to him continuing Newman鈥檚 exciting development and evolution.  For anyone who missed the announcement, please click here to view.

An Acting Principal for Term 1 2023 will be announced by Marist Schools Australia Ltd in the coming weeks.

Year 11 Dinner Dance

Congratulations to our Year 11 students for their highly enthusiastic participation in the Dinner Dance which was held in Week 1.  The students conducted themselves superbly on the night and obviously had much fun celebrating with their cohort.

Parent Engagement

Newman Parent Committee (NPC):听 Our next NPC meeting is to be held on Wednesday 10 August 5.45pm. I warmly invite all interested parents to attend.听 Further information will be circulated closer to the time.

Christmas in July:听 We celebrated Christmas in July at 今日吃瓜 with around 100 parents. It was wonderful to see so many brave the chilly conditions and connect with friends in a relaxed and festive setting.听

Marist Schools Australia Conference

I will be accompanied by three members of our College Executive to attend the Marist Schools Australia National Conference in Brisbane next Sunday through to Wednesday.  Marists from around Australia and beyond will gather together for a series of symposiums and workshops.  今日吃瓜 will be presenting two symposiums:

  • Learning Strand – To Live is to Change; to be Perfect is to have Changed often
  • Formation Strand – Vision for Mission: To Form 鈥淕ood Christians and Good Citizens鈥�

We look forward to sharing our journey with colleagues.

My best wishes to all for an enjoyable and productive Term 3.

Newman News Term 2 Week 10: From the Vice Principal

Jo Dunn on 01/07/2022

Term 3 鈥� Key Dates 

Monday 18 July – Staff PL day (College Closed) 

Tuesday 19 July – Pupil Free Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews **NOTE: Morning and afternoon interviews are online via Teams  

Wednesday 20 July – PK-12 Students Return 

Friday 12 August – Pupil Free (Staff PL) 

Monday 15 August – Pupil Free (Faith Day) 

Friday 23 September – End of Term 3

Introduction

As we close Week 10 of Term 2, we say farewell to Semester One. Walking around the school, I see that both students and staff are in need of the holiday break. Our Marist characteristic of Love of Work is more easily achieved when we have the balance of Presence and time for Family Spirit in our lives. We hope that all members of our community enjoy a restful period of relaxation, connection, and rejuvenation. Our PK-12 staff return on Monday 18 July to attend Faith Formation Professional Learning, Parent Teacher Interviews are on Tuesday 19 July, and we will welcome all students back to Term 3 on Wednesday 20 July.听听

Reports PK to Year 12听

The Semester One Reports will have all gone live as of this afternoon. These reports detail student achievement across the year and provide measurement on respective efforts in the various learning areas. Reports provide us with feedback against curriculum intents and our vision for learning commitments. This feedback is most useful and can act as a catalyst for reflection on what has been. From this vantage point, students must set goals for the future. Student agency is actualised when the student is involved in the goal setting process and is committed to realising these goals, therefore enjoying the fruits of self-efficacy.

We have introduced new reporting cover pages to help our community to interpret the Semester Reports. From Semester Two these cover pages will form part of the report. Please find the cover pages below. These pages will be emailed to parents when the notification is sent to alert that reports are live. 

 

 

 

 

Parent Teacher Interviews 

Parent Teacher Interviews for the College commence on Tuesday 19 July from 9.30am 鈥� 7.30pm. In order to cater to the schedules of our families, we are trailing a hybrid system for this event. The hybrid system will include the opportunity to book either face to face or online meetings during allocated times.  Staff have worked hard to prepare for these interviews for which I extend my thanks. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with parents and students.  

Students Who Have Participated in State and National Representation

The College would like to recognise and celebrate the achievements of those students who have represented their team, sport, or activity at a state or national level. If your child has participated in an activity that falls within that category, we would love to hear from you.   

Staff Changes Semester Two

Leaving 

  • Risk and Compliance Officer: Kristina Telford 

Long Service Leave 

  • Italian Coordinator: Anjuli Duncan 

New Staff 

  • College Events Coordinator: Karla Nessfield-Thomas听
  • Part-time Pre-Kindy Teacher: Delia Kretzmann听
  • Digital Innovation Coordinator: Joel Kandiah听
  • Italian Teacher: Maria Famiano听
  • Leader of People and Culture: Nicole Luckman听
  • Emily Mincherton: Food Science and Technology Secondary Teacher听
  • Scott Smith 鈥� Ongoing Leader of Wellbeing听听

Staff Professional Learning and Parent Teacher Interviews听

Our PK-12 staff return on Monday 18 July to attend Faith Formation Professional Learning.听 Parent Teacher Interviews for the College commence on Tuesday 19 July from 9.30am 鈥� 7.30pm. In order to cater to the schedules of our families, we are trailing a hybrid system for this event. The hybrid system will include the opportunity to book either face to face or online meetings during allocated times.听 Staff have worked hard to prepare for these interviews for which I extend my thanks. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with parents and students.听听

Return to School 鈥� Term 3 

Students in all year groups return to the College on Wednesday 20 July.  We ask that you ensure students adhere to uniform and grooming expectations associated with our Winter Uniform.

Newman Parents Consultation Event 鈥� Christmas in July  

It is time to come together and celebrate our community. What bigger celebration is there than Christmas! Please join us to celebrate Christmas in July at the College at this parent only event. Enjoy mulled wine and hot food as we connect and share our journey together in this community.  Click here to buy tickets.

Bishops’ Religious Literacy Assessment 2022

At the request of the Western Australian Bishops, Year 3, Year 5 and Year 9 students in Catholic 

schools across Western Australia will take part in The Bishops’ Religious Literacy Assessment 

(BRLA) from the week commencing Monday 25 July in Term Three. This assessment is online. 

Students enrolled in Year 3, Year 5 and Year 9 who are following a regular classroom program 

are expected to participate. Students with disability are entitled to participate in the assessment. 

Exemptions may apply. 

The Nature and Role of the BRLA 

The Bishops’ Religious Literacy Assessment is a large-scale, standardised assessment that 

consists of Religious Education (RE) assessments developed and marked by the Office of 

Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA). The purpose of the BRLA is to measure student 

learning of the content in the RE curriculum. Formal school and student reports are produced 

by the Office and will become available to schools in Term Four. 

The BRLA provides a 鈥榩oint in time鈥� snapshot of student performance in RE. Students鈥� 

knowledge and understanding of the content of the RE curriculum is assessed using a 

combination of multiple choice, and short and extended response items. Students鈥� faith is not 

assessed. The use of the BRLA complements the school based assessment programs in RE. 

Please contact your child鈥檚 teacher or myself if you have any enquiries regarding the 

administration of The Bishops’ Religious Literacy Assessment. 

Code of Conduct

Newman News Term 2 Week 10: From the Deputy Principal Primary

Jo Dunn on 01/07/2022

Key Dates

鈥� In recent times, our school calendar has changed regularly.

6 Blue Assembly

Last Friday students from the Lavalla campus gathered in the Marist Auditorium for a great assembly of celebration. We acknowledged the efforts of our Eureka Sleek Geek Science Award winners from the Year 3 and Year 4 SHINE program, and also acknowledged the efforts of our Year 6 Interschool football team who took out the shield for their efforts at the Interschool carnival the day before (with Roman Vladich adjudged best on ground). We also celebrated many award winners, and witness a wonderfully entertaining assembly item from 6 Blue who demonstrated how the Talk4Writing program has guided their persuasive writing in class. Well done to all students who were able to celebrate their success this week!

1 Green Assembly

This morning the Marian students gathered in the hall for a wonderfully heartfelt assembly presented by the 1 Green class. Their theme was on talents, and how we all have our own unique gifts we can bring and share in the world. This is such a positive message, especially for our youngest students. It is very easy to look at the skills or accomplishments of others, and feel diminished ourselves…however it is important to recognise and celebrate the great gifts that live within each of us. We also acknowledged the terrific efforts of a number of students and classes who have finished this term so well. Congratulations to all our students who have worked so well to impress their teachers over these last few weeks!

Marcellin Award

This week, our Marcellin Award was awarded to Zac Sindall of 6 Green. At the beginning of the week, we began with a prayer assembly where the theme was giving of oneself in service to others. This perfectly summaries Zac and the efforts and attitude he brings to school each day. He is to be congratulated on being such a fine, upstanding young man who makes a big difference in the lives of his classmates. Well done Zac!

Cross Country Carnival

Last week we enjoyed a very successful Cross Country, thanks to the organising efforts of Mrs Tash Richards, as well as all those staff, parents, and students who supported us on the day. It was a very closely contested event, with every student that took part earning points for their faction. In the end, Knox were our eventual champions. Amazingly, this is the fifth year in a row that Knox has taken out the top honours! Let’s see if they can be back next year to do it all again, or if they will finally be toppled from their crown. Full results are below:

1st: Knox 418 points

2nd: Delaney 386 points

3rd: Marcellin 366 points

4th: Brigid 356 points

Speak Up Awards

Last Friday, students from Years 3-6 gathered in the hall to listen to six amazing speeches as part of the Speak Up Awards for 2022. We heard students speak on a range of topics including the History of Nintendo, Rocky Balboa, and Laughter. There was a great mix of speeches that sought to entertain, inform, and persuade the audience as all students listened attentively and engaged in our speakers. In the end, there were three speeches chosen to go through to the next round of the competition, which will occur next term (highlighted below). Our 今日吃瓜 representatives will compete against other students from neighbouring schools, with winners from that round going through to the finals. Well done to all students who took part – the quality of the speeches presented was exceptional! A full list of students who took part and their speech topics are presented below:

Isla Kalebic – Life as the youngest sibling

Deion Fernando – COVID-19

Grace Taylor – Laughter

Damon Caratti – History of Nintendo

Bailey Aylmore – Lycanthropy

Stefan Moschopoulos – Rocky Balboa

Year 5 Zoo Excursion

This morning, Year 5 students headed off to Perth Zoo with our amazing parent helpers for a beautiful last-day excursion. Students have been learning all about the biology of different animals, with a particular focus on animal adaptations. Adaptations help animals to stay alive and can be acquired at birth or developed over a period of time. The Year Fives integrated their knowledge of adaptations into creating an interactive Hopscotch game of an animal of their choice. Students are also using the excursion as an opportunity to integrate their literacy unit of work to write Information Reports on their Perth Zoo animal. We are sure that all students had a wonderful day. A big thank you goes to the Year 5 teachers for their planning of the day, as well as our parent helpers who attended in support.

AMEB – Australian Music Examinations Board

Congratulations to Joshua Woods (Year 6) on being awarded first place in the 2022 Fremantle Eisteddfod in the AMEB Grade 5 Strings section, performing “Liebesleid” by Fritz Kreisler. Under the tutelage of violin tutor, Ms Hannah Herriman, Joshua has been playing violin since Year 3 as part of Year 3 String Program and is now Concert Master of the Year 5/6 Vivace String Ensemble. What an amazing achievement, Joshua!

Student Wellbeing

A few weeks ago, if you were like me, you might have found yourself quite amused at the antics of young Prince Louis during the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations. There were short snippets circulating on the news and social media showing the young royal arguing with his Mum and acting less than his best self. This was somewhat amusing, as there is a certain standard and decorum we come to expect from the royal family, perhaps even in its youngest members.

However, some people also took this as opportunity to cast judgement on the young prince, and on the parenting of Kate and Will. They thought that because he was caught on camera being ‘naughty’, or doing the wrong thing, that he must be like that all the time; that the prince has no respect for others, or that his parents weren’t doing enough to ‘raise him right’. Imagine having conclusions drawn about ourselves or our own children based on a few minutes of behaviour over the course of a whole day. What we need to remember is that in this case, the young prince is only 4 years old, and we can only imagine how many hours of events or ‘sitting still’ he had to endure over that weekend.

Sometimes, this same thing can happen in school. Parents or other students can see something in isolation, and form judgements or opinions on the behaviour of a child, or on the parenting skills or values of their parents. Often, children’s behaviour is a form of communication, especially in younger children. Sometimes children don’t have the skills to communicate their emotions or feelings in the way they would like, and so this can present in their behaviour instead. When we encounter a child in this way, instead of judging them or their family, perhaps we are better to ask “I wonder what is going on for that child at the moment”, or, “I wonder if there is anything I could do to offer my support”. It is important to remember that in most instances, behaviour is derived from our feelings, and our feelings derive from our experiences. Therefore, if you see a child having a moment, or perhaps witness your own child struggling themselves, it is often more productive to ask what is happening, rather than to become upset. Of course, we are all human too – but if we work to encounter those around us with grace, kindness, love, and understanding, we will be making a better world for all of us.

Stuart McClorey
Leader of Wellbeing – Primary