FROM THE PRINCIPAL
SMALL GOALS TOGETHER ‘Our bodies are our gardens to which our wills are gardeners.’ William Shakespeare Wellbeing is a word we see and hear a lot. Whilst wellbeing has always been something we have been conscious of, we seem to have become more cognisant to its importance because of our experiences during the Pandemic, lockdowns, and the ongoing issues we are still encountering. Schools are microcosms of the wider society, and the experiences of 2020 and 2021 have made us hyper alert to health matters and the importance of human connection. Physical and mental health are symbiotic. Wellbeing encompasses physical strength, emotional buoyancy, social inclusivity, and societal participation. Strengthening these elements can help improve and consolidate meaning, enjoyment, and enrichment in our lives. Empirical research identifies that good mental health and academic achievement are strengthened if students have autonomous motivation, feel they belong, have positive relationships, and feel competent. It is therefore in the education sector’s best interests to be mindful and proactive in pursuit of an improvement in wellbeing for students, staff, and parents. Deconstructing what wellbeing means in the context of Fintona and focusing on where we can build and expand existing opportunities for our young people is crucial. Our Physical Education Programs, including Sport and a range of House activities, promote wellness through exercise, but also develop skills and understanding of self-care, fitness, and resilience. Team sports require students to work together to achieve results and build friendships which intrinsically support wellbeing.
The Camps and Outdoor Education programs present students with a range of obstacles that allow them to problem solve and overcome difficult situations. One student described her recent camp experience in this way, ‘One of the small goals was to take one more step after our last, and this worked, as those many small goals together are what got us to the end.’ The student also spoke about the resilience she had acquired and how that has changed her thinking. Transition programs, guest speakers, and the Life Skills program, amongst other events and activities in our yearly programs, support the girls in understanding themselves and others more deeply, as well as building connections and a sense of belonging. Our students are encouraged to challenge their thinking and behaviours, to become involved in an activity they might normally avoid, to audition for a part in the School Play, to perform on Shakespeare Day,
to try to solve a mathematical problem, to showcase their musical talents, to run faster than they thought they ever could; or to just ‘give it a go’. In this edition of the Fintona File, you will find articles and photographs that reflect the girls’ ability to connect with their peers and their community and to invest in their education through effort and goal setting. We need our young people to thrive, be enthusiastic and productive at school and at home, for themselves and for the future prosperity of society. Wellbeing is hard to quantify, but it is really a fait accompli that happy and healthy individuals en masse will contribute significantly to the communities they connect with, as well as reducing the burden on our health systems, the economy and the many issues facing society at large. All we need to do now is put all that we have learnt into action, like our girls! Rachael Falloon Principal
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