From the Deputy Headmaster/Head of Junior School

I’m always eager to hear how each of the teams have performed in their cocurricular pursuits. In fact, I often wish I had Hermione Granger’s time turner so I could be at Park 17, Prince Alfred College, Rostrevor College and St Michael’s College all at once, cheering the boys on!

It has been great to see and hear about the victories, the camaraderie and skill development across Junior School teams over the past four weeks. However, when I asked a few students how their match had gone, I was given the response: “Oh, we smashed them.”

I have to admit, that phrase gave me pause and got me thinking. How do we talk about winning in a way that is strong and lovely?

I’ve been talking with colleagues Mr Cosgrove, Mr Roberts and Mr Storer to name a few about this very challenge. It is not always easy to strike the right tone but it is important. While I understand the excitement behind a win, describing it that way does not sit comfortably with the School’s value of respect. I know how our boys would feel if they heard another team’s parent or student talk about us, saying they had ‘thrashed’ us.

We know that the language our students hear on television or at the Adelaide Oval does not always model respectful behaviour. But at SPSC we hold ourselves to a higher standard. As a community, let us remember we are part of a performance culture grounded in respect.

I have been asking students to reflect on the School value of respect and what it truly means to be respectful and to feel respected when participating in competition.

So next time you are talking with your son about the wins, the draws or the losses, join me in asking:

• Who in your team played well?
• Who do you enjoy playing with?
• What was the score?
• What moment, whether a goal, a mark, a rebuttal or a chess move, are you most proud of?

Our boys are fortunate to compete against students from a range of schools. Please join me in encouraging them to be grateful for our opponents. Without them there would be no competition. When we talk about them, let us do so with the respect they deserve.

Thank you to all parents, grandparents and friends who came out to support the Junior School Cross Country event on Tuesday. It was a perfect example of what respectful competition looks like. The encouragement and support given by students, staff and parents alike was something our community can be proud of.

We look forward to presenting place winners in our Week 5 Assembly.

Jasmine Taylor 
Deputy Headmaster – Head of Junior School

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