The View

Friday, 17 Mar 2023

Communicating Optimism
I have recently been reading Against All Odds. This book recounts the miraculous rescue mission of 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach. In the summer of 2018, the world was transfixed by the perilous plight of a Thai soccer team trapped in a flooded cave for over two weeks. Against...
Read More
Friday, 10 Mar 2023

The Power of Empathy
Our value here at Avondale School this week has been empathy. Empathy is a phenomenal virtue that not only helps to forge meaningful human connection with others, but also attacks feelings of shame at their very roots. There is often nothing more comforting when we are facing some of the...
Read More
Friday, 03 Mar 2023

Now That's A Good Plan
Last year, I had the privilege of covering a Year 9 class for a teacher who was absent. Arriving at the classroom, I greeted the students who were chatting nervously amongst themselves. When I enquired as to what was causing their concern, they outlined their anxiety and worry regarding the...
Read More
Friday, 24 Feb 2023

​Respect: An Essential Virtue
“Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.” Laurence Sterne Respect is an essential virtue that we believe should be instilled in every individual regardless of age or background. At Avondale School, we strive to nurture an environment that upholds respect as a core value because...
Read More
Friday, 17 Feb 2023

Vision Check-up
When visiting the optometrist, it is always confronting how much each line seems to be slipping out of reach as the years go by. Not sure if anyone else has been tempted to memorise the lines, so one could pass the test with ease every time?  We know it's easier to see...
Read More
Friday, 17 Feb 2023

Tongues and Tensions
Last Friday an excited group of children found a baby blue tongue lizard under a bag rack. We needed to relocate the terrified lizard away from the exuberant young students, so I attempted to pick it up. This small but fierce reptile viewed my attempted rescue and relocation as an...
Read More
Friday, 17 Feb 2023

Connection
During the summer some mighty gum trees in my neighbourhood fell victim to a raging storm and crashed to the ground, roots laid bare. Even more magnetic than our Australian gums are the enormous redwood trees. They grow to around 100m tall, with diameters up to 7 metres. Some redwoods...
Read More
Friday, 09 Dec 2022

How Is Your Sparkle?
Several years ago Primary students were visiting my office to choose prizes. One of the highly prized items in the box was small tubes of glitter. One young student selected a tube of glitter and excitedly bounced out of my office with her new treasure. She returned almost immediately, holding...
Read More
Friday, 02 Dec 2022

It Takes A Village
One of the things I love about this time of year is looking back and seeing the growth in our students. They come so far in a school year, and it’s exciting to see that growth and development. There are so many people that contribute to that growth. Parents, relatives,...
Read More