It is hard to remember a time that has had so much rain.
Normally at this time of year the sprinkler system is going, the pools need topping up, the days are hot and the beach is a great place to be, but here we are in the middle of an unusual weather event and despite the presenting conditions we need to adapt as best we can. Adapting requires us to be agile and flexible in how we meet the challenges that come along. The students that learn this skill are able to thrive. The students that struggle to cope with change, will need more support. A base virtue to start with is a strong sense of ‘self-efficacy’, one of our Graduate Aims.
Having a positive Self-Efficacy is having the freedom to say, ‘I can do it!’. This does not mean that we expect students to find success in the first instance. My young grandson is currently learning to walk; he has had many accidents along the way. At times his face looks like a bruised boxer, nevertheless, he persists despite the falls and hasn’t given up. He will master walking and get onto running and hopefully one day he will engage in high level sport, but experiencing failure will be an important part of the learning process for him.
Good education will have programs across the curriculum that will challenge the students and there will be a level of struggle and failure. As students experience this it is important that they learn to ‘not give up’… real success will be sometimes measured in just getting to the end of the task. When a student persists in the challenge they will experience improvement and with that a sense of self efficacy that will build confidence to tackle any adversity.
Thanks for working with us to encourage, support and coach your child to keep on keeping on.
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4
