Resilience
A key component of the learning process is resilience, which can be defined as the ability to deal with, or bounce back from, adversity. In the classroom, being resilient will help children grapple with concepts and skills that are initially confusing or complicated. Just this week, a Grade 4 student who finds mathematics to be particularly challenging surprised herself when she grasped the concept of estimating before finding the exact answer. She accomplished this because she recovered from the frustration she felt at the start of the lesson and kept at it.
What is equally valuable, though, is the way in which resilience can help children outside of the classroom - and especially when dealing with the adversity that arises from tricky or unpleasant social interactions. Over the course of the year, and in many different ways, our teachers will be working with children to develop resilience in the classroom and on the playground. One of the key things we know about developing resilience is to make sure that children understand that they have control over how they respond to situations. What is perhaps more important, however, is to make sure that children are given the opportunity to exercise that control. That starts with listening to them and encouraging them to generate ideas for what to do next. This can be a very tricky thing for parents (and teachers) to do when it seems clear that the easiest, quickest solution is to sort things out for them. But, much like a sugar rush only provides fleeting energy, always stepping in to smooth out the path for children will only ever provide temporary and incomplete solutions - while communicating to children that they are incapable of solving problems. More information about resilience will also be shared here over the coming weeks.
Healthy Lifestyles Week - “Active Kids, Active Families”
This year, the Healthy Lifestyles week of activities and lessons will take place in October. Starting with an energising assembly on the morning of Monday, 3 October, and culminating in the Active Families event for Grades 3-5 on the afternoon of Friday, 7 October, the week will be filled with creative and engaging opportunities for the children to get active. If you have a child (or children) in Grades 3-5, you will have received this letter about the Active Families event; please fill out the form that was linked in that letter if you would like to participate. A huge thank you goes out to Claire McMahon (Grade 4) and Clare Hodder (PE) for all the vision, creativity and effort that goes into organising these school wide events. More information about the entire range of events and activities will come your way soon!
Road Safety
Now that autumn has officially begun, the number of daylight hours will steadily decrease, meaning that it will start to get darker in the mornings and afternoons - just when our children are making their way to and from school. This is an ideal time, then, to remind everyone about road safety. This includes safety precautions that students can take while on campus. In class and during assemblies, we will remind the children about taking care near the drive and the parking areas, making sure to only use the marked crosswalks and to also stop, look and listen before crossing. It is especially important for children to be mindful of the coming and going of the buses at the start and end of the school day. We would appreciate it if you could reinforce these safety messages at home.
Grade 5 Trip
Next week, I will accompany the Grade 5 classes on their residential trip. Paul Bertolotto, our Preschool and Elementary School Assistant Principal will be available at ISA during the week for students, parents and staff should there be any need.
A Three-Day Weekend
Lastly, this upcoming Monday (26 September) is a local holiday and an occasion to enjoy some family time. I hope the weekend brings a lot of fun and relaxation for everyone.
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