Middle/Senior School Bulletin Issue 11 / 18 August 2017
Middle & Senior School News Flourishing At St Andrews we talk a lot about flourishing. The Oxford Dictionary defines the verb flourishing: ‘to grow or develop in a healthy and vigorous way, especially as a result of a particularly congenial environment.’ It is our aspiration and intention to build an environment, in and out of classes, where all students and staff develop and grow in such a manner. Our Middle School Expo on Monday night was an evening where the exuberance of our students and their sharing embodied the notion of flourishing. From the allgirls rock band to the flurry around My Business Rules, into the learning displays and the Interactive Science, Robotics and Sporting activities and the teeming Languages area the students embodied flourishing. Thank you to all members of our community for making this a special event.
Each day, I walk through active, engaged, interesting classes and watch our students under the guidance of their teachers. Over the last two weeks, students have flourished across many arenas. To follow are a few highlights. This week we celebrated Science Week which included a number of lunchtime and after school activities aimed at extending our scientific mindedness. St Andrews had excellent representation at the Gold Coast Science Trivia Challenge against schools from across the Gold Coast. In all, 10 teams participated; 5 in the Middle School section and another 5 in the Senior School Section. All teams performed well and had an enjoyable time.
Annabel Rytenskild, Year 9 and Elijah Friebel, Year 8 competed at the Speaking Up competition and Annabel was awarded 1st place.
Our Chess Teams competed last Friday in the AGCC competition, with our Secondary School Team coming
away with a team victory, as well as Khai Bowie being the Individual Champion. In the Junior division Daniel Perry and Aiden Campbell excelled and were undefeated individual champions and the team placed 2nd. At the Gold Coast Interschool Competition held this week, St Andrews won the A division. Congratulations to Khai Bowie, Daniel Perry, Ellena Perry and Aiden Campbell.
Year 7 student Jarrod Wilson took part in the Robocup Junior State competition held at University of Queensland last Weekend. Last Friday the College launched two new initiatives The Entrepreneurial Experience and The Entrepreneurial Academy. These are two very exciting new opportunities for students. We have partnered with Bond University and iYouth and we are seeking the support of members of our wider community who have involvement in entrepreneurial ventures, online business platforms, marketing and small business. Could that be you? Please contact myself virginiaw@salc.qld.edu. au or Terri Myles terrim@salc.qld.edu.au if you would like to act as a mentor in support of our young entrepreneurs. Last Week our Year 11 students took part in their Leadership Camp at Emu Gully and today our Year 12 students sat through their final QCS test practice sessions. The growth in our students through these two journeys, camp for Year 11 and QCS preparations for Year 12, has been marked and it continues to be an absolute privilege to walk along with our students and families. They truly are fine young men and women of character.
Our Secondary School Dance Troupe last Week won the Gold Coast Dance Eisteddfod, which was very hotly contested. A number of students have also shone in recent Drama Festivals. In the MLTAQ Language speaking competitions we also had a plethora of places. In German, Izzy Young placed 1st and Miko Savory placed 3rd with Georgia Wright and Sophie Crouch both highly commended. Emily Martin and Laura Hayman were also Highly Commended. In Japanese, Eliza Thorpe placed 1st and all of the students who represented the College performed extremely well.
Virginia Warner Deputy Principal Head of Secondary School
Chaplains Chat The Fruit of the Spirit is not a coconut… this is a fun song sung by Junior School. It continues with the fact that the fruit of the Spirit actually is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-Control. This is the fruit that God grows within each of us as we live our lives as His children. We all know that fruit comes from a plant of some description - a tree, a bush, a vine… We also know that the tree needs to receive nourishment if it is to produce fruit. No amount of self-talk, decision or determination will bring about the growth of fruit. It all comes down to what actually goes into the leaves and roots to bring about the ‘good stuff’. It needs plenty of sunlight, carbon dioxide, trace elements and water. Without these, nothing happens.
It is no different for us as humans. Our character needs nourishment. Unfortunately, our natural environment is rather light on in nutritious input for our character. A clip on Youtube, entitled ‘The Story of Stuff’ highlights how we as members of western culture suffer from a cycle of watching TV which tells us through advertising that we are inadequate and the answer is to go and buy ‘stuff’. This makes us feel better but then have to go and work doubly hard to pay for it. We end up exhausted sitting in front of the TV again which reinforces through advertising that we are inadequate or as the clip says ‘You suck’ and then you go back to the shop buy more ‘stuff’ and the cycle continues…. There does not appear to be too many other messages out there that counteract this situation. Our whole way of life revolves around us consuming to maintain the economy otherwise everything stops. In amongst the advertising there is the fact that each of us are ‘good enough’ in God’s eyes as we place our faith and trust in Him and His rescue of us through Christ. This makes all the difference to how we experience life. Living in the acceptance God has for us as His children breaks out of the cycle of feeling inadequate. Being cared for and nurtured by God brings the growth of beautiful fruit in our life and we don’t strive or strain for this to come about. It simply happens as we live out our identity as one of God’s kids. The fruit of the spirit is not a coconut - it is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-Control. May this fruit show forth in our individual lives and in this community as we ‘do life with God’. Graeme Schache College Chaplain
Subject Selection for 2018 Subject information booklets for 2018 were handed out at the Middle School Expo. Any student who did not collect a booklet on the evening can collect it from Middle School Administration. For the past few years the College has used an online preference system for allocating these electives. All students enrolled in the Middle School for 2018 will shortly gain access to this system and will be able to register preferences. An email will be sent to families in the next few weeks with details about accessing this system. Googa Preparation for the Year 9 Edge experience is well underway and students should have already completed cabin preference forms and given these to Mr Tanguy. Online permission forms and paper ‘Googa’ medical forms are due. Please contact Ms Jestrimski in Middle School Administration for replacements forms should it be necessary. As always, please contact me should you wish to discuss anything further or if I can offer any assistance tomc@salc. qld.edu.au
Middle School News Middle School Expo. The annual Middle School Expo was held last Monday evening. This evening was again a wonderful opportunity to wander around and see various activities from the Middle School in action. Students across all Year levels should be congratulated for their efforts in assisting either during the day or being involved in the evening. Special thanks to the Gold Coast Fresh Meat Centre and its Snags 4 Schools initiative for donating sausages and materials for Year 11 Christian Studies’ students efforts to raise money for families affected by cancer in the community.
Tom Casey Head of Middle School
Flourishing in the Senior School Positive Education Term 3 Advice As we hurtle towards the end of Term 3 and the exam blocks in Week 9 and 10, it is important that our young people stay focused on the academic and personal goals they set at the start of the term and on the strengths they possess that will assist them in this busy part of the term. In Christian Studies and assemblies we have been talking about the strengths of temperance or moderation. This includes forgiveness, prudence, self-control and humility. Probably, what our young people will need most in the coming weeks is self-control. That is the ability to put off immediate gratification (going to that party, sleepover, movies, shopping, beach) so they can focus on the work at hand to meet deadlines and fully prepare themselves for the end of term exams. Revision should have already started; reading over class notes each night, making practice tests, going to tutorials, doing all the
homework and class work and creating study notes or study groups with class mates. From our experience, the biggest mistake our young people make is leaving their work until the last minute. Please Note: The assessment policy states that work must be submitted by 3.30pm of the due date, any evidence of plagiarism will incur a penalty and all transgressions will result in an academic detention. Year 11 Leadership Camp The Year 11’s experienced another action-packed camp at Emu Gully recently. At the start of the camp they set goals to build friendships, appreciate each other’s opinions, show respect, appreciate nature, support each other, have fun together, learn, put in 100% effort, get outside their personal comfort zones and achieve personal growth. Looking at those goals – they are a good recipe for their upcoming journey as seniors of the College, the requirements of a fruitful Year 12. Hopefully our young people have reflected on their responsibility to ensure that it is a successful 2018. In Christian Studies we will reflect further on their roles as leaders. The leadership positions and applications for leadership need to be submitted to Ms Stewart by the end of Week 9.
the work they have done with Mrs Wrigley, Mighty Minds and their subject teachers. Students cannot study for QCS but need to be well rested and healthy in mind, body and spirit. This is the time to use our skills of wellbeing – growth mindset (I am fully prepared for the QCS, I can only do my best, I know what to expect in these tests because I have practised them) and try some mindful breathing when feeling uncertain or anxious. Anxiety & Depression in Young People Health professionals and reports comment on the increasing rates of depression and anxiety in young people, therefore included below is a blog on the subject that parents may want to refer to: https://www.happyfamilies.com.au/blog/ know-teen-depressed/ If you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me on tanias@salc.qld.edu.au Tania Stewart Head of Senior School
Performing Arts News Cultural Awards 2017 Cultural Awards is our night of nights in the Arts – where we celebrate all things creative across the College. Our Cultural Awards will be held Friday 20 October at 6pm in our new Theatre. Over the coming weeks we will gather information to determine who will receive the awards. In the Junior School we use our ensemble rolls for Years 4 – 6 and ask parents to email priscillas@salc.qld.edu.au with any other information relating to events outside of the College. Years 7–12 students are required to complete a survey and return to me by Week 9. Cultural Awards Criteria Cultural Awards recognise individual student achievement in the performing and visual arts. In the area of performing arts the awards include achievements in Music, Drama (stage and screen) and Dance (achievements within College Dance Programs, Dance Schools, Professional Dance Companies, Stage Productions and RAD Examinations are included). Visual Arts include photography and filmmaking.
Upcoming QCS Test – Year 12’s We wish our seniors, who will be sitting this test on Tuesday 29 August and Wednesday 30 August (Week 8), all the very best. Years 11’s will cook them a sumptuous breakfast and lunch on both days will be provided. While this is a very important part of the Year 12 process and the outcome leads to an OP score (combined with subject results) it is NOT the be all and end all. Our Year 12’s need to keep this these two days of testing in perspective. They have been fully prepared for it through the last twelve Years of schooling and
Essential Criteria for all levels: Active Participation in school cultural activities Bronze Award This is awarded to students who • Have been involved in several (3 – 4) cultural groups/ activities throughout the Year OR • Passed Grade 5 or above in Music, Dance or Speech & Drama Exam OR • Are nominated for outstanding contribution to a school ensemble/activity
Silver Award • Grade 5 or above in Music or Speech & Drama Exam + involvement in cultural groups/activities throughout the Year OR • Major Award at Regional level (GC Drama Festival / Eisteddfod Championships etc)
antibullying piece performed to spoken word is incredibly powerful and following on from their 3rd place in Sydney – this routine won at Gold Coast. Congratulations on such a wonderful achievement. Dance truly is thriving here at St Andrews and we are so very proud of the quality of the work produced and the talent and dedication of our dancers and choreographers. Well done!
Gold Award • Representation at State level or equivalent in chosen discipline (eg cast in a professional production) OR • Major Award (eg. Top of State in Speech & Drama Exam) FOSTAA The FOSTAA Award acknowledges an individual for their contribution to the Cultural Life of the College. The focus of this award is on how an individual works within a cast/choir or ensemble, their attitude as well as their ability. If you have any questions regarding Cultural Awards or your child’s eligibility please email me at priscillas@salc.qld.edu.au Student Achievement Congratulations to the following students on their recent individual success at the Gold Coast Eisteddfod: Saoirse Harding Musical Theatre – 1st Place Pop – 1st Place Under 20s Original Composition – HC Amy Dignan Vocal Sections 1st, 2nd, VHC and HC
Peter Pan Auditions Week 9 Our next whole of College musical is Peter Pan Jr. It will be on at The Arts Centre in Term 2, 2018. Students from Years 3 – 11 are welcome to audition. See the flyer for details.
Samantha Todd Disney – 1st Place Musical Theatre – 2nd Won the Kirra Adam’s Award for the Performer with the Most Potential Congratulations ladies! Combined Dance Troupe Last Friday our Senior Dance Troupe Intensity competed at the Gold Coast Eisteddfod with their new routine “To This Day” choreographed by Miss Paula Guild. This powerful
Priscilla Scott Head of Arts
Visual Art News Art, Art and more Art…… The Term is flying by in a frenzy of art activities…..
The inaugural SALC VisArtsCollective Workshop took place on the Sunday 30 July with Christina d’Assonville and some super keen Year 11 and 12 Art students and a past student. Participants were encouraged to work on either ceramics, or another media of their choice. We pulled out the pottery wheels and Christina got to work showing past student Brad the tricks and tips. In addition to this, Year 12 students took the opportunity to extend themselves in different media areas, while the Year 11’s played with clay and watercolour. This is a new initiative at St Andrews and we are keen to start small and grow it slowly. The grand plan is to have an occasional space where art students and members of the wider SALC community who perhaps work in the Arts, or have a background in the Arts, can interact, make art and discuss art in general. A shared space for creativity and community to flourish. If you would like further information on this idea, please do not hesitate to contact me at ngaireh@ salc.qld.edu.au
Thanks to Year 10 who taught Year 2 how to make birds and leaves as part of their unit on colour. The Year 10s were great teachers and enthusiastically assisted the younger ones to make colourful collaged birds and watercolour leaves. Special mentions to Aidan Jones, Remi Hevey and Oscar Knowles for their leadership in this activity. Then it was our visitors from Japan who had an Art morning, ably assisted by Jack May, Emily Clark, Liliana Mikami and Liam Nash. The Japanese students created coasters to take back to their families based on the contour maps of the surrounding areas. SALC students assisted the Japanese students to choose designs, explained where the location of their design was and also demonstrated how to use the Aboriginal Western Desert dot painting technique. The Japanese students loved this activity and thanks to those students who assisted.
Over the last two weeks the Year 6 students have been working in the Senior School artrooms working on their PYP Exhibition artwork. They are designing clay cylinders that will be installed as part of a larger series of totem poles in the Junior School.
Artist Studio students have been working hard on designing images that will be transferred to canvas. These images will then be displayed in the athlete’s village at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Ngaire Harman Visual Arts
Science News Our Year 11 Chemistry students recently attended a one day excursion to Griffith University to analyse water samples for heavy metals, phosphates and water hardness.
Chess News AGCC Chess Tournament Report Aquinas College 11 August 2017 St Andrews Lutheran College fielded 7 players in the Senior Team and 3 players in the Junior Team - a total of 10 players. Our students played exceptionally well in both divisions. The team spirit reflected that of true Andrians with the Chess Coordinators complementing our students on their high standard of play. Juniors Final Individual Winners – Daniel Perry and Aiden Campbell with 7/7 wins. Senior Final Individual Winner–Khai Bowie with 7/7 wins Overall, the Junior Team came second, despite fielding only three players. Most schools had the maximum of 8 players per team. Overall, the senior team from St Andrews were declared winners of the 2017 AGCC Tournament congratulations to Joshua Gilbert, Ben Watson, Khai Bowie and Hayden Verschuure. Gold Coast Interschool Chess Tournament Report St Stephens College 16 August 2017
St Andrews Lutheran College fielded 8 players in the A Division and 3 players in the B Division - a total of 11 players in an auditorium comprising around 180-200 students. This tournament on the Gold Coast was well represented by highly rated players from All Saints Anglican School; Somerset College; Kings Christian College, The Southport School (TSS) and a range of other schools including the State sector. Our students played exceptionally well in the A Division. Once again, the team spirit reflected that of true Andrians with the Chess Coordinators (Gardiner Chess) amazed by our Andrians and their high standard of play. David Wyatt Science
Round 6 (out of 7) into this highly contested tournament saw St Andrews represented on Boards 1 (Daniel), 2 (Khai),
3 (Aiden) and 5 (Ellena). Again in round 7, St Andrews dominated the top 3 boards in the A Division - Boards 1 (Daniel), 2 (Khai), 3 (Aiden). Accordingly, despite fierce competition, both Daniel and Khai won their final rounds with a 7/7 victory to each. Division A Final Results Final Individual Winners – Aiden Campbell 3rd; Khai Bowie 2nd (on countback with Daniel); Daniel Perry 1st. St Andrews won all top 3 individual awards. St Andrews Lutheran College were Overall Division A Winners. Congratulations, Khai Bowie, Daniel Perry, Ellena Perry and Aiden Campbell. The students received their medals at the end of the tournament. A truly remarkable achievement from Team Andrians. Dr Gordon Naidoo
Sport News Athletics On Monday and Tuesday of last week, many of our students represented the College at the District trials. Those students making the Regional team will be notified next week.
Touch Next week our 15 Years boys, 15 Years girls and Open Mixed teams will play the preliminary round of the All School competition. Selected students will depart the College during period 6 on Monday to play after school matches at Owen Park in Southport. As our Year 7 students are all away on camp their games have been re scheduled for the following week. To help prepare our students for these important first round matches our Touch Excellence group will be playing against Miami State High School and Palm Beach Currumbin State High School during Thursday afternoon sport this week.
As our representative athletics season comes towards an end I would like to acknowledge some school records broken or established by some very talented students: • Jayden Sonter in the 14 Years boys long jump with a jump of 5.21m • Madyson Cloherty in 12 Years girls shot put with a throw of 8.34m • Madyson Cloherty in 12 Years girls High Jump with a jump of 1.40m • Tia Whimpey – triple jump • Jack Taylor and Daniel Ross – triple jump • Holly Rodway – 1500m Libby Wood Secondary School Sports Coordinator
P&F News
Athletics training with Ms West is on every Thursday afternoon. This time to train for regional events or join our athletics team to compete in the upcoming Fuel Athletics Series held at Kings Christian College on Thursday 24 August.
J block recovery is progressing well with the project running to time with carpet being laid to the inside floors of the hall. The Ruth Butler Theatre to be the last part of the rebuild J Block. Friends of the theatre chair donations has now finished with a huge response from the families of the school raising over $20,000. These funds are greatly appreciated and we all thank you for the support. We would like to know the level of interest from parents and guardians who would like to SKYPE into P&F meet-
ings through the school address. Please email your details through to pandf@salc.qld.edu.au so we can obtain the level of interest. The Father’s Day stall will be running on the Tuesday 29 August and Wednesday 30 August from 7.30am in the bus shelter. This is due to Junior School 3-way conference being held on Thursday. We are looking for volunteers to help man the stall during these mornings. Please contact Nicole Ainger if you are available to help at naa@ingwersen.com.au with all your details. The next P& F meeting is on Wednesday 13 September at 7.00pm in the J Block Upper West. We welcome all parents and guardians to attend.
Dates to Remember AUGUST Monday 21 Year 11 Drama Zen zen zo Incursion (Selected Students) Year 7 Camp 2017 Austay School Group from Japan Years 8 -9 It’s In The Bag Excursion (Selected Students) Years 8-12 All Schools Touch (Selected Students)
Blazer fittings for Year 9 students
Tuesday 22 Year 7 Camp 2017 Austay School Group from Japan Wednesday 23
Next Year your child will require a College Blazer to be worn for school photos at the beginning of Term 1, and then daily as part of the formal winter uniform in Terms 2 and 3.
Year 7 Camp 2017
Blazers (new and 2nd hand) must be ordered from the Uniform Shop BY THE END OF THIS Term. This is to ensure that the order can be placed on Saturday 30 September and the blazers will arrive in time for the official school photos. NB: Orders for blazers placed after this date may incur a late fee as charged by the supplier.
Red 25 Blood Donations (Selected Students)
The Uniform Shop has sample blazers to try on and there are some new and second hand blazers available for immediate purchase. More 2nd hand blazers are expected at the end of the Year and requests for these will be taken on First-In basis. We encourage parents to accompany their child when ordering these blazers to ensure the correct fitting. Blazer sizes can be changed in January if necessary. Please ask staff for details.
Austay School Group from Japan GC Eisteddfod Percussion Ensemble (Selected Students) Thursday 24 GC Eisteddfod – SS Concert Band (Selected Students) Years 7-12 Fuel Athletics Series (Selected Students) Friday 25 Years 7-12 Assembly New Parent & Year 7 Parents Afternoon Tea (Main Staff Room) Years 3-12 Dance Night - Robina Community Centre Lending a helping hand at ROSIES (Selected Students) Tuesday 29 Year 10 City XP QCS Tests
New Blazers Girls $190-$195 Boys $195-$200 Second Hand Blazers $100-$130 depending on quality.
13 Boys Preliminary Touch Match (Selected Students)
A $50 deposit will be required when placing your order and you are welcome to use our Lay-by facility to make payments.
Year 10 City XP
Wednesday 30 QCS Tests Years 7-8 Girls Preliminary Touch Match (Selected Students) Thursday 31
Animi Dance Adult Ballet Did you know Animi Dance is running an Adult Ballet and Stretch Class this year? No experience necessary! Wonderful for fitness and a lot of fun. Cost is $10, pay casually. All welcome! Day and time: every Tuesday, 4:15pm - 5:00pm Venue: J2 (in the Senior School) Contact Tina Tanguy at tinat@salc.qld.edu.au for further information
Year 11 Snr Leadership 2018 Applications Due GC Eisteddfod MS Dance Troupes (Selected Students) Years 10-12 AGCC Finals Years 7-9 AGCC Comp 7 Semi Finals SEPTEMBER Friday 1 GC Show Day Public Holiday
LLL School Banking Do your kids know the value of money?
In today’s world of electronic payments and internet banking, it is difficult to teach children the value of money. When you’re at the shops, how often do you pay with actual cash? Australians only use cash for 37% of purchases, mainly for goods costing under $10. Our kids have learned that money lives in a plastic card, and lack clear understanding of how money works. The LLL recommends teaching kids the “three ‘S’s”: Saving: Have a savings goal. Instead of purchasing a birthday or Christmas present for them, let this be the motivation for saving. Spending: For everyday items: when you’re buying a coffee and your child wants a biscuit, they can use their ‘spending’ money. They’ll learn that once money is spent, it’s gone, and it’s a great way to talk about comparing the value of items. Sharing: Help your child to develop an attitude of giving at a young age. Let them choose a cause they are passionate about. One way to do this is with three clear jam jars with the labels ‘saving, ‘spending’, and ‘sharing’. Your child can tangibly see the growth as the money accumulates.
The LLL provides savings accounts for children. The accounts have a good interest rate with no bonus hurdles to jump over AND we also pay a $5 gift for the first savings account opened for the child. Talk to the school office about opening an LLL Children’s Saving Account and participating in LLL school banking today, or visit www.lll.org.au for more information. Note: School Banking Day is Tuesday. Books can be left at Junior School Admin, Middle School Admin, Senior School Admin or Main Reception.
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TECH SKILLS App Prototyping Website Creation Graphic Design
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bit.ly/andrewsacademy Plus, Each student is given a personal mentor and access to an online community, to sustain momentum throughout the week. Our partners, iYouth, have been awarded the title ‘Digital Champions’ by the Queensland Government and helped students raise half a million dollars.
Note: You don’t have to come with a startup idea.
How to network How to pitch
EDUCATION/LEARNING
insights Not in front of the children! by Michael Grose
The things parents say in front of their children have wide-ranging effects on their learning, confidence and behaviour. Ever said something about another person in front of your children, only to hear one of the kids repeat those words in public when the subject of your comments is around? Yes, children’s blatant honesty can embarrass the hell out of their parents. We need to be mindful of what we say in front of our children. But being embarrassed by our children is only half the communication story. As celebrated US psychologist Martin Seligman found in his ground-breaking research about optimism, children usually reflect the explanatory style of their primary parent by the age of eight. So, for instance, if a parent is a raging pessimist there’s every chance that their kids will pick up and convey the same ‘woe is me’ way of viewing the world from an early age. As parents, this means we need to be really mindful of how we present the world to our kids. Kids take their cues from parents as trusted adults But it’s not just with optimism or pessimism that we need to be careful about our messaging. Kids take their cues from their parents as they work out how to behave and belong in all sorts of ways. Tell a child he has a learning difficulty and he’ll believe it. Tell a child she has a behaviour problem and she will believe that. Tell them they are no good at maths and the message will more than likely stick. And why not? Children look at parents as wise, trusted adults who know a thing or two about the world. Even adolescents, who are renowned for wanting to challenge the authority and world view of their parents, still use their parents as significant reference points. Parents who talk down other people – including teachers, friends and family members – in the vicinity of their children are teaching those kids to devalue those same people. Even when we vent about someone else out of sheer frustration we are shaping our children’s views about those people. For all these reasons, as parents we need to be so careful about the messages we give out.
We're a Parenting Ideas school
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‘I don’t have to do that work’ Recently I heard how a thirteen-year-old girl refused point blank to work for a teacher as her mother had said that the teacher’s expectations were unreasonable. Miss 13 cited her mother’s views when she refused to get to work saying, “My mum says I’ve got a problem with learning. She says you need to take it easy on me but you don’t. I don’t have to do your work!” This type of entrenched view is very difficult for a teacher to encounter without ridiculing the parents and the young person. However stories like this are more common than most people think. They reinforce the notion that parents need to be mindful of what they say in front of their children, whether that be about the child’s abilities, their teachers or anyone else. Negative views can easily shut down kids’ learning. Some children are quicker than others to latch on to even a skerrick of their parents’ negativity as an excuse either not to work or to lower the expectations of others. Sometimes it best to say nothing at all As adults we have all sorts of opinions that don’t necessarily need to be shared with our kids. We may hold strong political views for example, but if young people are to formulate their own opinions then it may wise to curb our opinions when they are around. Similarly, it may be smart to keep mum if our views about religion, sexuality and ethnicity are intolerant or don’t follow the mainstream. That’s not to say we don’t discuss these issues at home. Children and parents in healthy families are able to discuss all manner of issues, with even extreme views tolerated and challenged rather than mindlessly expressed and held as if they are the only possible truth.
Michael Grose Michael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas, is one of Australia’s leading parenting educators. He’s the author of 10 books for parents including Thriving! and the best-selling Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It, and his latest release Spoonfed Generation: How to raise independent children. A trailblazer in the parenting and educational scenes Michael regularly appears in the media throughout Australia in programs including The Project, The Today Show and ABC radio.
We're a Parenting Ideas school
parentingideas.com.au