From the Deputy Headmaster/ Head of Junior School

Over the past fortnight the School Captains, alongside our Junior School SRC, have been promoting Blue Week, a week of activities that focus on the importance of prioritising mental health. R U OK? Day, by chance, also fell into this week promoting conversations around being able to say when you are not okay.

When reflecting on the impact of asking a colleague, a student, a parent, a friend if they are okay, can have, I revisited the R U OK website. Their goal is to ‘inspire and empower everyone to meaningfully connect with the people around them and start a conversation with those in their world who may be struggling with life.’

In our context, our students are encouraged to greet adults and each other with eye contact and often a handshake. When I see students and ask how they are, whether it be at the start of the day, around the grounds, or sometimes if I have ever bumped into boys at the supermarket or Bunnings, I most often get the response ‘well thank you, how are you?’ This is polite, respectful, and it shows that students are interested in how I am feeling too. I genuinely appreciate this.

Last week, when I was at the Palm House gates, welcoming boys at the start of the day, I asked a boy how he was. He didn’t say ‘well thank you, how are you?’ and I knew that he wasn’t okay. When I said, I can tell you aren’t okay today, he told me!

I am grateful that this student was able to offload his worry at the start of the day and I hope that he had a better day because he was able to share how he was feeling with me before he went into class.

Our Years 4 to 6 students use Orah to tell us how they are feeling in real time so we can respond when our young people aren’t feeling okay. We have also introduced a ‘How are you feeling?’ letterbox outside of the Year 3 classrooms for younger students to share how they are feeling. The boys have Parents, Teachers, Education Support Officers, Jacque, Hayley, School Psychologists, Mr Storer… the list goes on, who are here for students to share when life is not going so well.

It is also important for us to remind our boys, and indeed ourselves, that when you have a worry, it’s important to share it. We want our young people to understand that it is okay to not feel okay, and when you aren’t okay, say so!

It has been a joy to see parents, students and teachers interact during 3 Way Conferences this week. This interaction has demonstrated the exceptional community of learning we have at St Peter’s College that transcends academic progress, and values the impact that relationships have on learning too!

Have a restful weekend.

Jasmine Taylor
Deputy Headmaster / Head of Junior School

Important Upcoming Dates