As a Principal there is nothing more important to me than the safety and wellbeing of our students. Each and every assembly and across every school day, I remind our students about the importance of making safe and respectful decisions.
Students are taught and reminded how to care for themselves and others. This could be as simple as not running on the stairs, or more significantly how to stay safe online, in the community, and in their interactions with others.
At Foxwell State Secondary College, we teach Respectful Relationships as part of Health and Wellbeing Education within our Healthy World lessons and across the curriculum. Students are provided with opportunities for social and emotional learning in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships, ethics, values, social norms, stereotypes, human rights, risk and responsible decision-making.
We agree that social and emotional learning in these areas is not solely the business of educators. We do not attempt to take on the important role that parents/carers hold in these areas. In partnership we can work together to best protect and prepare our young people at this vital time in their lives.
The pre- and early-teenage years can be a confusing time for our young people as they crave increased autonomy whilst learning to manage their emotions and stress. Parents most often know what their child needs most, but, at times, can use support and resources to help them to address the more complex challenges and questions.
Here are some links to resources and organisations that may provide you with the support you need.
Remember, if you ever need further support from our school, please contact our Guidance Officer, School Based Youth Health Nurse, School Chaplain, Heads of Year, Deputy Principal or teachers.
PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOURS
We need to teach our young people protective behaviours. There are many resources available for you to help you when speaking with your child.
The recent Queensland Police investigation in to a local sporting club volunteer reminds us of the need to ensure our young people know how to recognise signs of danger and to protect themselves by knowing what to do when something does not feel right.
QPS has made available the following information in relation to child protection. Child protection is everybody's business. You will find information about child/youth safety, children and the internet and 'who's chatting to your child' below.
THE KEY TO SUCCESS IS GRIT
What is grit? Duckworth and colleagues define grit as "passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. It is unrelenting desire to drive to achieve, a 'hang in there' attitude that does not abandon when faced with obstacles".
Grit is a vital enabler for success because it involves identifying specific goals, eagerly seeking feedback on our performance towards meeting these goals and putting in deliberate practice to fix any mistakes and move to the next level of our abilities. It also involves finding a real interest and deeper meaning in our pursuits, and believing we can overcome obstacles in our way. Grit helps us to keep showing up every day no matter what.
So, what can we do as educators and parents to strenghten the level of grit within our young people? By fostering a growth mindset through helping them re-define what success is all about is critical. They need to know that success isn't all about achieving a flawless outcome, but is about moving outside of one's 'comfort zone', learning from the process of making mistakes, making small achievements through persistent effort and persevering until long-term goals are met.
As parents, it is so important for you to cultivate confidence and optimism in your children that will allow them to power through those low or difficult moments. Recognise that frustration, confusion and practice are par for the course. As parents, model that you can take calculated risks. Grit demands risk taking. Successful people are willing to risk failure in order to learn something new. Teach your children that failure is not the end. James Dyson had 5127 failed vacuum prototypes before he came out with the Dyson Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner that made him a billionaire. Yes 5127!!.
The most important thing you can do is to not let your protective instincts rob your children from first-hand experiences with hard-won victories. Don't jump straight in with their new maths problem or do their homework for them because they find it hard and frustrating the first time. As stated in Building Character, "as parents, we all want to see our children succeed, but as they search to find their footing on the pathway to success, it is important to show that that failure is part of the process, not an endpoint, but necessary crossing on the road to achievement".
Over the coming week/s, your child will be engaging in final assessment tasks. Be there to support and guide them, but most of all, be there to help them build GRIT.
P & C Association - Get involved
Each month at our P & C Association meetings, we have the opportunity to share the most up-to-date information about our school and to work strategically with parents about the next steps for our school. These meetings are the opportunity for all parents and members of our school community to have a say in a safe and supportive environment. If you haven't been to a P & C Association meeting yet, I recommend you come along next Tuesday, either in person or via Zoom. Your child's education counts on it.
Until next time
Kym Amor
