In Focus
Might We Be Better Off In Some Ways for COVID19?
Recently I was fortunate enough to hear Dr Lea Water speak in regards to COVID19, and she referenced some particularly interesting research from Virginia Satir, an American author and therapist who studied our response to unexpected trauma. It is natural to be going on an emotional journey at the moment – and many families will … Continued
Curiosity – A Wellbeing Element?
Curiosity comes from the Latin “to care” , meaning to care enough to ask real questions… As one of our school values, curiosity is one of the nine facets of the Wellbeing Hive. Why would curiosity be a wellbeing element? This is an interesting place to start. Like many of you, I grew up watching … Continued
Balancing Work, Your Child’s Education and Parenting
We are experiencing for the first time in living memory a time of unsafety. The difficulty of how to balance our lives is very real. As parents we are pulled in many directions at the same time. For many of us work is a time for us to recharge, getting the social interaction that may … Continued
Give Yourself a Break – Literally!
Checking in with my Year 12 students is as much a pleasure as it is a part of my job – and a privilege to speak so openly and candidly with these wonderful young men about the challenges (and surprising benefits) of learning online. One of the biggest challenges many reported to me in the … Continued
If You Want to Change The World, Start by Making Your Bed
Both the Senior Boys and Girls would be familiar with this video which Dr Middleton has discussed at assemblies: In it, Admiral William McRaven talks about the lessons he learned as a Navy Seal that easily translate to success in real life. He gave this as the commencement speech for the graduating class of the … Continued
Tips for Parents During COVID19
Recently, a number of staff across the school accessed a session by two of Australia’s leading thinkers on the teenage mind – Dr Tim Hawkes and Professor Michael Carr-Gregg. The session focused around how to support senior students during this period whereby the Year 12 they expected, is looking very different to the year that … Continued
Make Your Mindful Moment a Grateful One
Of all the 9 facets of the Wellbeing Hive, the practice of mindfulness may seem the biggest challenge for some families and young people. People often confuse the term ‘mindfulness’ with meditation, which is a particularly deep and enriching mindfulness practice – but will not resonate for everyone. It is worth a try at some … Continued
Message for Year 12 Students During COVID19
So, your Year 12 year is not quite what you expected… in fact, it looks nothing like you expected. The milestones you prepared for and the learning experiences you have spent years looking forward to are suddenly looking rather unlikely. It is okay to admit to being vulnerable, confused or disappointed at this time. But … Continued
How to Thrive With the Wellbeing Hive
We are presented today with challenging times – and also so much to be grateful for. While our ancestors were called to war and lived through the depression, we are being asked to stay in our homes and isolate ourselves as best we can. In the modern world, this is a difficult task but not … Continued
Year 7 PJ and Movie Bash
On Wednesday 11 March, the Year 7 St Margaret’s cohort donned their comfiest pyjamas and excitedly gathered in the Mindfulness Room for their special movie afternoon, one of a number of activities aimed at promoting year level bonding and a smooth transition into the Senior School this year. On the menu was popcorn and other … Continued
Spelling Bee
The first annual SMS / BGS Senior School Spelling Bee was launched this term. 68 students volunteered to take part in Round 1, which was a very difficult written spelling test held in the library of each campus. Abecedarian, bacciferous, opprobrious – some words even confounded our top spellers. Students who made it through to … Continued
From the Principal – 26 March
This is one of the more unusual Campus News articles I have had to write. I am sitting alone in a very quiet building that normally would be replete with chatter, children and colleagues (as indeed it should be, given the need for self-distancing). While I could share quotes and reflections of others, I actually … Continued
