Friendships and connections
Schools are places of human connection. Research shows that girls achieve best when they feel connected and have strong relationships. We aim for Somerville House to be a happy place, where girls enjoy wonderful friendships with peers and positive connections with teachers. Imagine the uplifting start to my Monday morning last week, when a new student introduced herself and said,
Mrs Kiepe, I have had the most wonderful start to this year. I have made some great friends already and I really like all my teachers and the opportunities at this school.
Her comments about friends reminded me of the importance of friendships for our students and I well know that emotionally stressed girls cannot learn.
This short article published on the Every Kid Counts website, has relevance to the importance of friendship and connection, so it is important to share with parents via this newsletter:
Learning how to connect with others and maintain good peer relationships is one of the most important competencies kids develop in childhood. These skills are critical to your child’s success and overall happiness.
Children who are effective in developing these connections typically have three things in common.
- Moral core: Relationships are built upon trust. Good friends, at any age, are individuals who are honest. They don’t gossip. You can depend upon them to say what they mean, and mean what they say. Good friends don’t say things just to make you feel good. They care enough to tell you things that may be difficult to hear. However, don’t confuse candour with rudeness. A good friend will wrap honesty around a blanket of gentleness and caring. I often advise parents to lighten up on their kids, and stop punishing children for relatively unimportant issues like an untidy bedroom. Your child’s moral compass has developed by around the age of ten. For those early childhood years, stay focused on modelling and rewarding a strong moral code. It’s a lot more important than keeping a room tidy.
- Shared interests: Friendships are based upon having something in common with others. Good friends are not only interested in other people, but have interests that solicit attention from individuals with similar pursuits. When I’m walking around the hospital where I work, I’ll acknowledge folks in the hallway. However, if I see someone who shares my passion for running, I’ll stop and chat for several moments. Shared interests act like a magnet, connecting us with others. If your child doesn’t have any friends, consider involving them in activities for which they are or may develop an interest.
- Communication and caring: Good friends are generally skilful communicators with each other. They freely share their own ideas and feelings. They genuinely care about understanding others, even perspectives that may differ from their own. Kids don’t acquire these skills easily. This takes lots of guidance from adults. Many kids look for gaps in conversations to blurt out what they feel, rather than ask questions to understand the views of peers. This narcissistic style is toxic to maintaining close relationships. These skills are best learned around the dinner table. Shut off all electronics, and talk about your day or things going on in the news. Encourage your kids to not only give their point of view, but also to understand viewpoints different than their own. Dinner time is not a police interrogation. The best way to teach communication skills with your kids is for you to talk about things going on in your world.”
Acknowledgements: http://blog.childrensdayton.org/why-your-kid-needs-a-bff/
In the words of Lucius Annaeus Seneca — “One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood”.
Special events from recent weeks
Last week presented an opportunity for our Middle Years and Senior Years students to participate in time outside the usual classroom walls. Our House Leaders displayed their leadership of the student body at the Interhouse Swimming Carnival for Senior Years on Thursday, and Middle Years on Friday. The carnival atmosphere and enthusiastic participation contributed to two fantastic days in the pool. Congratulations to: Gilmore House on their Champion House status for Senior Years, Osburn House on their Champion House status for Middle Years, all age champions and runners-up from Years 7 to 12, swimmers who broke records, those that swam a personal best and all swimming participants. Special thanks to Mr Andrew McCabe, Director of Sport for leading this event and thank you also to the Senior Years House Co-ordinators, Ms Kathryn Kolb (Chisholm), Mrs Sandy Pfingst (Durack), Mr Eric Wise (Franklin), Mrs Elizabeth Webber (Gilmore), Mrs Narelle Cooley (Macarthur — Acting), Mrs Ann Olsen (Osburn — Acting) and the Middle Years House Co-ordinators Ms Kira Sampson (Chisholm), Mr Sam Camp (Durack), Ms Victoria Albert (Franklin — Acting), Ms Elizabeth Allotta (Gilmore), Mr Olivier Baggiano (Macarthur) and Mrs Michelle Baker (Osburn). Thank you also to the tireless efforts of all staff throughout the carnival who assisted with the smooth running of the events, in the capacity of timekeepers and general supervision to ensure a fun and safe carnival for all.
Co-Curricular activities
The School Calendar is certainly in full swing, as reflected in the most recent weekend’s Summer Fixtures for Water Polo and Softball, the Band and Strings Reading Day and an array of various activities outside the classroom. As the School year progresses, I look forward to visiting various venues to support our Somerville House girls. Parents, please feel welcome to say 'hello' and introduce yourself, when I am out and about on the sidelines or in the audience.
Parent Information Evenings
On behalf of the Heads of Year, I extend appreciation to parents in attendance at the Parent Information Evenings held across the Senior School and the Junior School Parent Information Prep to Year 6 sessions in recent weeks. Such events provide a great opportunity to meet your daughter’s teacher in an informal setting and build networks with parents of girls in your daughter’s tutorial or year group. We also hope it provides the chance to be informed about significant events and year level specific information at the start of each academic year. We shall send out a short survey shortly to collate feedback (suggestions gratefully received) relating to these events.
Senior Formal
It was a pleasure to attend the Senior Formal at the Brisbane Convention Centre on Saturday evening (Saturday 6 February). Our Year 12 students danced the night away and it was a memorable occasion for all. Thank you to staff who attended the Formal, as it was a pleasure to share our Saturday evening with our Year 12 students and guests — Ms Nyree Hatzimihail, Dr Gemma Dale, Ms Sally Glennon, Mrs Narelle Cooley, Ms Jo Bennett, Mr David Haliczer, Mr Sebastian Percival, Ms Clare Huang, Mrs Nicole Ross, Ms Adriana Barter, and Mrs Kathryn Emtage, along with members of the Leadership Team — Mrs Julie Brunckhorst, Ms Chris O’Gorman, Mrs Frances Greene, Mrs Wendy Jurss and Mrs Jo Matherson.
Looking ahead
Our Year 7 students head off to Camp Goodenough today (Wednesday 10 February) and return on Friday 12 February. We wish girls and staff an enjoyable few days of camp activities. Thank you to all staff who will attend the camp, with special thanks to Mrs Catherine Krenzsk, Head of Year 7, who will take the lead with Camp Goodenough.
PMSA Governance appointments and changes
On the Somerville House School Council, we welcome current parent Matthew Miller. I would also like to farewell Maribel Reyna-Cruz and Fleur Wilkinson. I thank them for their commitment and expertise to the governance of the School during the time they served.
Mrs Kim Kiepe
Principal