"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." Michael Jordan, US basketball player
I have been thinking of these words throughout the term. Teachers, students and families return to Term 2 in the anticipation of a big term. As well as turning darker and colder, there is much learning to do, assessments to complete, units of work with which to grapple, and reports to write and read. Success is our goal. Mistakes will be made.
What does it mean for our students to succeed? Does it mean to get As in their report? Obtaining an award at the K-6 Assembly? Or does it mean that each student challenged themselves to achieve new goals and made plenty of mistakes as they did?
At Thomas Hassall, teachers want students to show determination in their learning. We hope that students set goals and then work hard to achieve them. A goal may involve academic learning, or social behaviours in the playground, or working with others in the classroom.
As we approach the final month of this busy term, please encourage your children to push themselves academically and socially. The way to true success is through displaying determination and by recognising the importance and value of making mistakes.