“A mind, when stretched by new ideas, never regains its original dimensions” Anon

Welcome to the Early Years! I am privileged and excited to walk the journey of this new sector of our College with our youngest students and their families. My role as Assistant Principal – Early Years is one of new discoveries and challenges encompassing the Prep – Year 4 cohorts. I am assisted in this position by Middle Leader – Early Years, Kathy Morgan, and a knowledgeable and talented team of Early Years teachers. Together, we strive for excellence in every aspect of your child’s experience at out College.

Congratulations to the Early Years students for settling in to new routines so quickly.  Teaching and learning has begun in earnest, with a strong emphasis on essential skills in English and Mathematics, taught within the context of a Catholic school.  As we focus on excellence, we turn our attention to the learning dispositions that enable this to happen – not only in our classrooms, but in many other facets of our lives. Learning dispositions can be defined as ‘relatively enduring habits of mind and action’. Effective, lifelong learners are those who develop positive dispositions early and continue to refine and develop these throughout their schooling years and beyond.

This week we take a look at the disposition of PERSISTENCE. This refers to the capacity to stick at a task, even when it becomes difficult. These are the children in our classroom who continue to try again and again without giving up easily. They are the children who struggle to put their shoes on in Prep but continue to try until they can master it. They are the children in Year One who find it hard to keep their writing on the lines, but don’t give up. They are the children in Year Two, or Three or Four who find getting through their new reader challenging but persist with decoding the text until it makes sense to them. They are persistent, and they will carry that skill with them into the Middle and Senior Years. Excellent parenting and teaching means not stepping in and doing things for your child every time the going gets tough; it is about encouraging them to be persistent.

Ava is in Prep. Managing how to hang your painting out to dry can be tricky in Prep! Ava needed to remember to hold the paper flat, slide it onto the rack like a pizza, and put pegs on it so it didn’t blow away. Ava showed PERSISTENCE – she kept on trying even though it was difficult.

Ava’s hard work wasn’t over! Next she had to hang up her paint apron correctly. The first time Ava tried, the apron fell off. But she didn’t give up. Ava showed PERSISTENCE – she kept on trying even though it was difficult. After a couple of attempts, the apron stayed in place. Next time, Ava will find it easier!

Katrina Walton

Assistant Principal Early Years