First Term Secondary News

Welcome to term one, it is good to see students settling in, with classes running smoothly. Our new staff, Miss De Leon and Mrs Krishnan are very welcome additions to our team.

I have already seen some exciting teaching ideas used in their classes, including QR code responses used to answer class quizzes.

Over the next two weeks, Questacon is visiting the school to inspire our students with some practical science experiments. We also have the FUTSAL tournament coming up in March.

On Wednesday afternoons, Inquiry classes are working on exciting challenges including National History Challenge, crime scene science, worship band, media crew, foodbank, peer support and basketball.

In 2021 we hope to see secondary camp go ahead mid-year, however we are required to follow Government advice in relation to COVID-19. If camps are not possible for this year, we will organise a number of excursions for students to participate in team and relationship building exercises.

If you have any questions or queries regarding anything to do with the high school, please feel free to call or email me at school.

Ed Moroni - Secondary Coordinator

The Winds of Growth

In the late 80’s scientists constructed a research facility in Arizona called Biosphere 2. It was built to study the interaction between life systems in a controlled environment, even with thoughts of usage in outer space.

It was outfitted with representative biomes to let nature run its course: rainforest, ocean, wetlands, savannah, and desert were built in. Several people also lived there for a while.

There are many articles about the study, and I think you can actually visit it if COVID-19 ever allows us to travel again, but one of the observations from this study I found fascinating was the trees.

The trees in the biosphere grew beautifully until they reached a certain height and then, for no apparent reason, fell over. It happened time and time again.

The researchers were fascinated by this phenomena and pondered what was going on. They found that the bark was thinner, the wood softer and the roots didn’t go down as deeply as trees in the wild. They eventually realised what was missing from the Biosphere. It was wind. Wind in nature stresses the trees, so they dig their roots deeper to withstand it and grow thicker bark to protect themselves. In the Biosphere the trees looked beautiful, but fell. The stress of the wind was essential for them to grow successfully into the future.

“The stresses we all endure create opportunities for deeper growth.”

This year at Emmanuel the wind is blowing. Last year we endured the winds of COVID-19 shutdown, Infant block refurbishment and playground renovation. This year we have just handed over the Primary block for refurbishment and watched as the Infant block was joyfully returned to. Throughout this all I have watched as children and parents and teachers and staff have grown their roots down deep and built up resilient bark and grown more than any of us could have without the stresses placed in our way.

The stresses we all endure create opportunities for deeper growth. Let’s lean into the wind. Let’s grow our roots deep. We, at Emmanuel, also understand that there is a God who loves us all and is there cheering for us and walking beside us as we endure all kinds of winds.

Annie Joy - Primary Coordinator

IQ and Grit

I’ve always found the idea of IQ, or ‘Intelligence Quotient,’ interesting. My Father valued it highly and often hinted that his was very high.

I remember being a first year Psychology student at Uni many years ago. We all had to be the guinea pigs for the third years and have our IQ tested. I was mortified when they asked me to name five Australian Prime Ministers and I could only name two! (I could blame this on being a child migrant, I knew all the names of Henry the Eighth’s wives?! Sad that I still try to justify.) I felt incredibly stupid and worried that this would forever scar me with a low score and my life wouldn’t amount to anything.

Then I was the third year, and I tested friends, family and my fair share of first years. (I still remember testing my mum. We got to the Maths section and she said, ‘I’m terrible at Maths’, and became a self-fulfilling prophecy by freezing and getting them all wrong.) I gave each person a number, out of 200, based on general knowledge questions, and being able to spot patterns, and repeat numbers backwards and a variety of other tasks. People who scored well were very pleased with themselves and those who didn’t do so well were embarrassed and seemed to agree with the test that they weren’t very clever. Interestingly my father never allowed me to test him.

I just googled IQ tests and was immediately offered about three free online tests. I know on Facebook regularly they seem to show up and lure you with the line, ‘Only a person with a high IQ could complete this test perfectly.’ But ultimately it has been proven that a high IQ score is NOT an indicator of future success, or happiness in life, or a good job. Even the tests as a measure of intelligence is being questioned in a number of recent articles I read.

So, if IQ is flawed as an indicator of success, what are the qualities of a person, a child, a student, that can indicate future success and can these be predicted, or measured, or even taught?

“If IQ is flawed as an indicator of success, what are the qualities of a person, a child, a student, that can indicate future success?”

The word ‘GRIT’ has been used in conversations around me over the last few years. In this article I’d like to explore it a bit more with the help of a book by Angela Duckworth, ‘GRIT: Why passion and resilience are the secrets to success.’

At the beginning of the book she shares her own story of growing up with her father who often said to her, “You know, you’re no genius.” Apparently her father was impressed by the ideas of genius and talent and regularly told his children they didn’t measure up. He was sad he didn’t have ‘smart’ children. And was worried about what they would achieve in life.  Interestingly Duckworth, two years before writing her book, was awarded the MacArthur Fellowship, which is sometimes called the ‘genius grant.’ She received it for her work on GRIT. Work which has proved that what we accomplish in life may depend more on passion and perseverance, GRIT, than our innate talent.

GRIT is a great measure of future success. It is passion and perseverance for long term and meaningful goals. It is the ability to persist in something you feel passionate about and persevere when you face obstacles. It is approaching life as a marathon, not a sprint.

Teachers and parents alike can learn about it and attempt to encourage it and model it in their own lives. We can help our young ones to discover their passions for the future and encourage them to persevere when faced with challenges. To be okay with failure and keep going when faced with challenges.

So, IQ is a measure that can be archived. It tells us one thing; how well we can score on an IQ test. It is not a good indicator of our future success in life. GRIT is.

To understand more about GRIT you can watch Angels Duckworth’s Ted talk or watch this animated summary of her book.

Annie Joy — Primary Co-ordinator

Why are Values Important?

As many of you would be aware, at Emmanuel Christian School, we have three core values. These are Faith, Hope, and Love. 

When we read 1 Corinthians 13, we discover that Love is the most important. Verses form this passage quite often get quoted at weddings, trying to demonstrate how the new couple should interact with one another.  However, in this passage, the Apostle Paul is actually writing to the Corinthians, addressing their desire to be motivated by self-interest and personal gratification and ultimately their lack of love for one another. The theme of this passage could be considered to be about an individual’s character development. 

Character development is something we are continually trying to assist our students with. We are very aware that not all students are the same, and we also understand that kids are kids and there will be times when they stuff up and make mistakes. It is in those moments, that we have the privilege to be able to speak into the students’ lives and help them to grow by correcting and at times, disciplining. Obviously, we try to work in unison with all our families so students hear the same message at home and school.  There is a motto that we have used in the creation of our aspirational values poster. ‘building character, builds success’.

Our aspirational values are, Integrity, Respect and Courage. In the July edition of the Harvard Business Review, Patrick Lencioni states, “aspirational values are those we need to succeed in the future but currently lack.” (July, 2014). Our aspirational school values of Integrity, Respect and Courage are values that we want to see in the character of all our students by the time they finish their schooling at Emmanuel. Our hope is that they aspire to be integral, respectful and courageous adults.

So, what can we do as parents, teachers and mentors to develop these values and build character in our young people. The most important thing we can do is to model appropriate behaviours and attitudes.

As a child growing up, respect was important. Everyone who was older than me, the next-door neighbour, my friends’ parents or teachers, it was expected that we address them as Mr or Mrs. Sadly, in today’s society, this common courtesy doesn’t appear to be as prevalent. Using manners almost appears optional for some. But this is where I believe we can make a difference, it is up to us to remind our young people to do these key behaviours. For example, when a child forgets to use their manners, don’t berate or lecture them on how disrespectful they are, gently remind them that using their manners is the right thing to do. Yes, they will forget time and time again but we need to continually remind them until they have the maturity to remember on their own.

David Serf - The Comfort Zone

Get out of your comfort zone and encourage your children to do the same.  It is well documented that when we are in our comfort zone, we are actually unchallenged because it is safe and easy, it is where we are the most disengaged.  It takes courage to step out of the comfort zone because there is a chance that we will fail. But we need to push through the fear zone and into the learning zone. The learning zone is where the real excitement happens, it is where we have successes and learn new skills which can then lead us into the growth zone where we become even better versions of ourselves. Being in the growth zone enables us to be motivated, be challenged and willing to take risks.

Change is never easy. But if we are to demonstrate integrity than we need to ensure that we are modelling the right attributes as parents. As I write this, I am well aware that I don’t always get this stuff right but each day I aspire to uphold our aspirational values of Integrity, Respect and Courage.

Drew Roberts — Deputy Principal

Gradual Change

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. — 2 Peter 3:18

Gradual change and growth can be difficult to see. I have been thinking about this idea as I have been watching the courtyard transform, thinking about our Year 10s leaving and seeing two of our Year 10s in our Primary School for their Work Experience. The courtyard has moved from an unstable, stark, unwelcoming environment through a muddy expanse to a progressing, quality expanse.

At the writing of this article, there is still more to be done. At times, to my untrained eye, it has looked like progress has nearly stopped. However, on closer inspection, seeing drainage going in under the surface and careful preparation for turf, concrete furniture, quality is evident, and anticipation rises. A lot of work has gone in under the surface and behind the scenes. I’ll be reflecting more on our Year 10s during the term and closer to the end of the year. Suffice to say here that it would have been difficult 12 years ago to see how far these young people would come and to see what they have accomplished. We have seen the school values of courage, integrity, and respect come alive in our students. These values were magnified in what I saw of our students here on work experience as capable young adults in their own capacity.

There have been times in the Year 10s life at school where like the courtyard, all that has gone on under the surface will not be particularly celebrated. It contributes to the bigger picture and the building of a quality ‘end product’. We want our young people prepared for life beyond school, as life long learners and equipped to take on life’s constant changes and challenges. We are accomplishing this, and we see the fruits in the successes our students are having in the years after leaving our outstanding school. Just like we expect the courtyard to be a valuable asset for our students years into the future, Emmanuel alumni will be making a difference in the community all their lives. All the planning, lessons, assemblies, tears, laughter and even detentions, have contributed to where our students are – six weeks away from graduating.

Scot Winkler — Principal