Principal's Reflection

Hopefully the past six weeks of school have enabled families the opportunity to be involved in many insights into learning and the value of having high expectations that are tempered by values such as compassion, respect, hospitality and mercy, qualities that we espouse at school, however, these are only ‘mere glimpses’ when compared to the learning and values that are taught and modelled at home. My children, although now all adults, still gain great pleasure from the experience of being together occasionally as a family, where we can relax and feel a part of a common history and prospective destiny. The importance of the family on inculcating principles of respect for learning is reflected in The Culture of Catholic Schools by Marcellin Flynn, who states, “The school is not the major influence on students’ lives, nor was it ever meant to be. The strongest influence which shapes their deepest values awaits them when, after sport or other school activities, they arrive home each afternoon. The school cannot replace the home in regards the total development of youth”.

Teachers certainly do not expect perfect children and acquiescent parents; I trust parents do not expect perfect teachers or have the expectation for our school to provide every resource and make every correct decision. What we need is reasonable and high expectations, open and respectful communication between involved parties and a desire to consistently work together. This goal is attainable if we all want the best for our children.

I believe our staff show great love for the children in our care - not the ‘insincere’ definition of love that tolerates all behaviours because challenging others might upset the person. Rather, a ‘tough love’ that supports, whilst also inspiring the individual to try to be a more involved and astute reader, a more engaging writer, a faster runner, a more eloquent speaker, a more collaborative team member, a more caring citizen. With the busy lives we all lead, I hope parents can see the efforts of their child or children in responding to their teacher’s sometimes ‘tough love’ in the context of the relatively minimal time that we have, as teachers, to influence and positively challenge.

 William Stein stated eloquently a mantra that is true to all of us when he stated, “Keep high aspirations, moderate expectations, and small needs”. Hopefully all staff at St Patrick’s cherish and act on the understanding that all students are capable and create opportunities for learning of high and reasonable expectations based on the belief that students have yet to be realised potential. With regards providing others with a realistic and clear expectation, teachers need to explicitly state their expectations for student achievement. High expectations can be seen in action in a classroom when teachers are explicit about the relationship between effort and achievement: They teach that students are not necessarily born smart but can become smart by applying effective effort. Low-achieving students often attribute school failure to factors beyond their control – a lack of innate ability, unfairly difficult assignments, falling into ‘bad company’ or bad luck. It is vital that teachers help them attribute failure and difficulty, to things they can control such as studying hard enough and applying the correct learning strategy. Teachers can help students understand that in most classes, students achieve good scores by listening, trying, trying again, reading, asking questions, paying attention, asking for help, being respectful, and reading critically.

Teachers endeavour to convey a powerful three-part message: This is important. You can do it. I won’t give up on you. I believe teachers are generally realistic in the expectations that are placed on students. There is ample evidence in communities of damaging behaviours that are related to the consequences of not establishing clear and reasonable expectations based on mutual respect. Your child will learn more about relationships and life from you than he or she will learn from our staff and I pray often that we strive to be people who are suitable role models for the children for whom we are blessed; people who teach the gospel values by our words and actions and live by the words of St Francis who said, “We must preach the gospel always, and sometimes use words”. I thank all families whose expectations align with those that staff endeavour to express in words and by deeds in our school.

Regards,

Rod Linhart

(Principal)