When people remember individuals who have helped them, teachers are often at the top of their list. Teachers shine a light ahead to places that students can’t yet see: a place where students find their unique talents and use them. Teachers help students reach their potential. A teacher doesn’t just provide lessons and assessments; a teacher is also a motivator, a psychologist, a crowd-control expert, an IT expert, a performer, a nutritionist, a literacy advocate, a nurse, and a recipient of shiny apples and the pure love of a grateful child.

Holiday periods for me are opportunities to reflect on many things. They provide time for me to read, time to think, time to ‘recharge’ and time to consider what lies ahead. Reading the story of St Therese was a wonderful reminder of my role in the universe.

SCHOOL UNIFORM 2020

Over the past weeks I have been doing a great deal of reading about brain development and how the brain affects children’s Behaviour. I do this with two hats on, as both an educator and as a parent of two daughters. One particular researcher whose work resonated with me was Dan Siegal, he discusses the idea of the brain having mental “brakes” and “accelerators”.

Many of you will have heard the aforementioned African proverb. It is often used to help us all understand the role we all play in providing support, guidance, understanding and critical love for all members of a community. In our community there are nearly 340 children, all in different phases of life’s journey.