‘There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out’

We live in a very busy, complex and noisy world. There is no doubt that students are impacted by the pace, intensity and challenge of our interconnectedness and multiple options and narratives.

I hope that over the holidays families found some time to be still and quiet. By removing noise, we give ourselves time to think and contemplate, which can lead to a deeper reflection and a more balanced sense of wellbeing. Self-reflection is such a terrific skill to foster in kids and creating times when this is done quietly, calmly and with intention helps us see and feel things that sometimes get lost in the noise of life.

It is amazing how often we look at others and compare and feel that we don’t measure up. So much of our society is based around aspirational messages and there is no doubt having goals and dreams are extremely valuable in the achievement process. Where many people struggle is balancing their hopes for the future with feeling satisfied with their present selves. The middle of the year is a great opportunity to take stock of how the year is going. Once rested over the break, I hope that families had some productive conversation about how things went in Semester 1. To help with the reflection process over the next few weeks, teachers and pastoral staff will discuss the semester reports with students to plan learning goals for Semester 2 – this will also assist with subject selection as we move into that process for 2024.

This week the students have been briefed about their subject selections for 2024. Heads of House, Mentors and Curriculum Leaders from Senior School will be able to provide sound advice and discuss options for 2024. Carey Pathways is an important resource and student login details for subject selection will be emailed this week. Please note that the due date for online selections for all year levels is Thursday 27 July. The Middle School provides a wonderful opportunity for students to develop a really strong foundation of core subjects and skills while also allowing for advocacy and choice in relation to curating an engaging and meaningful learning journey. We encourage students to challenge themselves and look for a breadth of experience in fact the opportunities are endless.

Following on from our terrific Year 7 Enterprise Week, this term we wish Year 8 students and staff all the best as they embark on the Hattah, Rural and the Human Rights Convention program over the next three weeks. Based on years past, we can expect some great stories when students return from their real-world experiences. We know that these innovative programs provide students a wonderful opportunity to further develop their thinking, collaboration, creativity, communication and connection in a different environment and way of learning.

I hope everyone has a wonderful start to Term 3 and looks forward to finding new answers to big questions.

Michael Nelson
Head of Middle School