The Senior School camps last week and the Year 6 trip to Canberra, which is happening as I write, are wonderful opportunities for students to learn and grow in a different environment. Hands on experiences can be great teachers. When children interact with something unfamiliar, they learn how to perceive themselves and others more deeply and develop their ability to respond appropriately in unfamiliar or unexpected situations.
Camps, excursions and other out of classroom activities often give students opportunities to mix with people who are unlike them. That may be another student in their year group that they have not met, or a teacher who has not taught them. Children who learn to connect meaningfully with people who are different to them are developing an important skill.
Meaningful parent involvement in the life of our school is important and appreciated. Therefore, it was a great joy to see many parents this week at the Junior School Celebration of Creativity events. Young children enthusiastically interacting with their parents in a classroom while doing an activity builds an important partnership between a school and home.
The parent teacher meetings at the beginning of next term are an equally important connection to help children learn and achieve to the best of their ability. I trust that the conversations parents have with teachers at these meetings will give them a clear understanding of how their children are progressing so far, and what lies ahead for their education for the rest of the year.
A few parents have recently asked about current and future plans for buildings and facilities. The Science and TAS faculties vacated their laboratories, woodwork rooms, etc when they moved to the new building. These rooms have only just been refurbished as general purpose classrooms, which we will start using progressively over the next couple of years as RHAC continues to grow. Late next term, we will commence a major refurbishment of the Senior School administration and reception area.
At the beginning of the year, I advised parents that the college had engaged imageseven to assist us with our communications and marketing. Over 200 parents completed a survey, which I am sure will assist imageseven to provide me with important advice on the College's strengths and areas for improvement. Your feedback was much appreciated.
As I conclude my final newsletter article for the term, I would like to share one piece of advice and one spiritual reflection.
A significant number of parents have asked me for practical advice on how they can manage devices at home. While most of my advice this year has been on reducing screen time, students listening to music also needs their parents' attention. Dr Jared Cooney Horvath, in his book The Digital Delusion acknowledges hat students who listen to subtle music which dissolves into the background like faded wallpaper for the mind can be beneficial for some students when they are studying. However, Dr Cooney Horvath goes on to say that … the moment you catch yourself humming along or drumming on your desk, it's no longer noise, it's competition. That's when music shifts from ally to saboteur and your learning will suffer .
Easter recognises the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, an event that is central to Christian belief.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.
I trust that our families will have a refreshing Easter holiday where they can reflect on the person of Jesus Christ, what he taught and the significance of his death and resurrection.
