Dear Parents

I am not going to write a column today. Instead, I am going to get you to do some professional reading.

The article which was published in the Herald this morning is ‘Stress Issues for Kids’ about how sometimes good parents contribute to their child’s anxiety.

It’s an article by Karen Banes reprinted from the Washington Post. I related to it because it is about good parents wanting the best but perhaps in wanting the best they are inadvertently doing things which are ultimately not helpful for their child. In my role, I often see this happening and it can be quite challenging for me as I want to acknowledge that the parent is a great parent but their actions, whilst well intended, are not necessarily the best for their child in the long run.

The sub headings are:

• Caring too much
• Advocating too hard
• Trying to fix weaknesses
• Overplaying strengths
• Having great values

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11618070

Have a read. You’re all great parents doing the best you possibly can but perhaps some reflection may make you even greater parents!

Great Work

Children often come to my office to share their great work with me. I love seeing how hard they have worked to prepare a quality piece of work, or how hard they have worked and have made a breakthrough with their learning. In the last week I have had some wonderful poetry shared with me and I would like to acknowledge these two students through publishing their poems.

Haiku              By Jack Madden                                

A snowy forest
A wolverine stores his food
A new hunt begins

The horrid mud run
Brown sludge devours my legs
It is now over

Personality Layers                  By Noah Hutchinson

To strangers on the street I am one of them,
just an everyday person
To the other kids at school I’m the guy with the green vest,
a peer mediator is just the best
To my really close friends I am the one who helps them when they are feeling down
To my family I am just another kid in the house that is always reading books
To myself I am a sleepyhead
In my dreams I am in a galaxy far, far away.

Kind regards

Janice Adamson

HOUSEKEEPING

3.  LUNCH ORDERS – Changes that come into effect on May 2nd 2016.

As from next term there will be two new lunch providers Pita Pit and a new sushi company. Please see the table below to see who provides and what day as from the 2 May 2016. Information regarding menus and ordering will be added to the lunch order page on our website next week.