As we wonder what is happening in the world, and worry about our kids, remember… (an extract from TED talk) Don’t feel sorry for or fear for your kids because the world they are going to grow up in is not what it used to be. God created them and called them for the exact moment in time that they’re in. Their life wasn’t a coincidence or an accident. Raise them up to know the power they walk in as children of God. Train them up in the authority of His Word. Teach them to walk in faith knowing that God is in control. Empower them to know they can change the world. Don’t teach them to be fearful and disheartened by the state of the world but hopeful that they can do something about it. Every person in all of history has been placed in the time that they were in because of God’s sovereign plan. He knew Daniel could handle the lion’s den. He knew David could handle Goliath. He knew Esther could handle Haman. He knew Peter could handle persecution. He knows that your child can handle whatever challenge they face in their life if they trust in Him. He created them specifically for it! Don’t be scared for your children but be honoured that God chose you to parent the generation that is facing the biggest challenges of our lifetime. Rise up to the challenge. Raise Daniels, David’s, Esther’s and Peters! God is not scratching His head wondering what He’s going to do with this mess of a world. He has an army He’s raising up to drive back the darkness and make Him known all over the earth. Don’t let your fear steal the greatness God placed in them. I know it’s hard to imagine them as anything besides our sweet little babies, and we just want to protect them from anything that could ever be hard on them, but they were born for such a time as this. Enjoy the weekend!

There Is No Guidebook, being the Head during the Coronavirus pandemic. We really don’t know what lies ahead for schools in 2021, and this is especially true for Heads of Schools. Before, we would plan just like any other previous year, and use a similar blueprint. Next year however, we must recreate a plan from a zero base. Our 2021 school day could see, virtual morning staff meetings, student’s registration and temperature checking continuing every morning. Staff might find virtual online staff hangouts and tea-time, instead of in-person meetings, and tea breaks. There might have to be devices in class for students who don’t have one at home to complete their homework tasks. Sport and cultural groups on Teams, doing training and lessons together, but in different locations. Video assembly greetings for students who are at home or in isolation. We can only guess what the future holds. And just maybe, a vaccine to end the uncertainty and we can move into a different daily routine, as I don’t think we can ever go back to what we knew as a normal day. So, perhaps you wondered, ‘What’s the Executive Head's job looking like right now in the age of coronavirus’? This is just one of the questions that pop into my head when I’m trying sleep at night. Questions, like, "What else do we need to do? How can we make the situation at school better? Because there really is no guidebook or policies." Our teachers also play a pivotal role in ensuring that our students are learning, and how lessons are taught in whatever form, and there are vast unknowns with 2021. It's unclear if all our students will return to school. Parents may opt to home school for another year. But, it still means we need to continue working on making sure that we are developing high-quality lessons, growing in our understanding and use of how to teach the curriculum using a digital platform in every lesson. Our greatest challenge might be to educate parents and continue giving help and positive suggestions and actions when there are issues of connectivity, no device at home or students going into isolation. We need to be prepared. We do not need to panic. We have the resources in front of us. We have great educators. We just need to plan and execute those plans timeously. There will be bumps in the road ahead in 2021, there will be connection glitches. Things happen. Remember we need to be open and ready to share information as each challenging situation rapidly evolves, from staff motor accidents, to the dying of loved ones. As a teacher we need to get up to speed on some of the technology, we need to selfeducate, watch the webinars, learn the technology, understand the use of the various apps. Work on new digital lessons, grow our professional education file, adapting the curriculum. We are all going to learn and grow together and come out at the end at a better place. During 2020 we found out how many students don't have access to the internet or a device at home. Some families ask for books or printed assignments to the online tasks. We need to be cognizant that students may also be sharing devices while at home, lessons need to be scaled down from 55 minutes to 30 minutes when online. We need to make use of technology when available and grow with our students. If students can watch a video assignment, complete it in writing, and send a photo of the completed assignment back to the teacher, so much better. As teachers we need to be considerate of the fact that some are sharing technology during the day, some do not have any technology, and some parents cannot afford to embrace technology. We want to continue the learning, we want to keep it positive, be patient with each other. Even I will try harder to be patient. We are going to have be patient this is a new learning curve. Some changes could be student engagement as a focus at Baobab school. There could be lunch with a teacher day, lots of small groups, eating lunch together, to help students and teachers get to know each other, whilst maintaining social distance. We are only going to be able to help the kids if we are in the right emotional space. So, take care of the stresses in your home, with your family, and we will work together to make the school work for kids." Enjoy the weekend!

Addressing Teaching Challenges! Curriculum and academic pressure, insufficient time to plan lessons, disruptive classroom behaviour, student challenges with technology, performance anxiety and stress, demanding parents, and the constant fear of covid-19 pandemic. It's 2pm: you had screening duty before school, cleaned up a bloody nose, and now, with 30 minutes left of class, your last whiteboard marker has dried up and the power is off in the classroom. Sometimes, all you can do is laugh. Laughter may not substitute for proper medical care, but research does point to serious health benefits. Laughter can relieve stress and improve your memory. It also boosts the immune system, something every teacher needs—and even helps out your cholesterol numbers. I take teaching very seriously. The work we do as educators is important. But I also wish so much of it was not so humourless. And I frankly think that teachers and administrators who lack a sense of humour should find another profession. Being able to survive and thrive in these contexts depends on the ability to detach, see the absurdity, not take oneself too seriously, not personalize, not become defensive and, as much as possible, laugh with some degree of frequency. By being detached, I do not mean not caring. So instead of seeing a situation as threatening or the student as a problem, we see the humour in what otherwise appears to be a humourless situation. Humour also has a very positive effect on our mental and physiological states, inducing endorphins, creating more relaxation and ease. Yet, like most of us, I sometimes lose my sense of humour when I need it the most, being too disappointed or too defensive to see the absurdity of the moment and change the game. As singer and TV host Kelly Clarkson always says; “If you’re not having a good day, just change it!” Enjoy the weekend

4 reasons schools should let students wear sports uniforms every day 1. Traditional uniforms are expensive For a primary-school student uniform appropriate for summer and winter, as well the sports uniform, is around P1500. The biggest saving that comes from shifting to an everyday policy of sports uniforms is that parents don’t need to buy multiple uniforms, saving around half. 2. Teachers, students, and parents prefer sports uniforms Overall, in a recent study, four in five parents and six in ten teachers support a change in uniform policy allowing students to wear sports uniforms every day. 3. Sports uniforms support physical activity Most students think they would be more active if they could wear their sports uniform every day. Older students, who are generally less active, more strongly agree they’d be more active wearing sports uniforms every day. Nine in ten parents agree school uniforms should support physical activity. Most teachers recognise physical activity is good for physical and mental health. Beyond health, active students do better in class, having better concentration, attention and classroom behaviours, which can lead to improved academic performance. But uniform changes are just one ingredient to increase young people’s physical activity. Combining factors such as the option to wear sports uniforms daily with classroom energisers, such as short active breaks from seated teaching. 4. Traditional uniforms are uncomfortable Most schools do not have enough changing facilities to allow students to switch between active wear and traditional uniforms at break. “Uniforms hold me back from running”, Enjoy the weekend!

Flourish! At this time of year, we will be meeting with several parents whose children have been identified as struggling or excelling academically. For the Std 7 parents they will be pondering over the years of secondary education ahead. Is their child on track, have they and the school done enough to allow the child to flourish? Inevitably, these families want to understand what is the ultimate aim of education at Baobab? We should be all able to answer, our goal is to ensure that each student can ‘flourish’. Flourish, even in these strange covid-19 times. Aristotle explores the question posed by Socrates and Plato before him about how we should live our lives. He uses the word ‘Eudaimonia’, perhaps best translated as ‘human flourishing’ to describe the highest human good – or what we might term the ‘purpose’ of life. Academic achievement, personal development, co-curricular opportunities, are only part of any school vision. And no individuals vision of life is the same, so too with teachers, but if we can say the following statements with confidence: • I know who I am • I like who I am • I’m good at being me Then all should be good! In order for our students and we ourselves to achieve this in life we need to find teaching stimulating, we need to develop intellectual curiosity for knowledge, explore how best to teach, how to encourage our students to be independent thinkers, and develop a love for learning. To me, flourishing is academic achievement, self-confidence and good judgement. Through all the challenges we have faced this year, never lose faith, hope or direction. Know that your life and goals can only be obtained if you flourish!

Responding Calmly to Upset Parents When an angry email shows up in the inbox, it can be tempting to respond in kind. These five tips will assist you for better responses. Working with children and families, we’ll all encounter what I call “ouch moments” A ‘WhatsApp’s’ message with a parent’s complaint about something gone wrong, for example, or a message taken out of context. The ‘ouch’ can take the form of an email in 60-point font, bold, capitalized, and underlined; or a post on social media painting you or our school in a less-than-positive light. This type of situation always seems to occur right at the wrong time. We might be heading out of the class, going to an activity or just checking email once at night when the complaint comes in. The concern may be minor; however, if we’re not in the best personal space, we may take offense at it. While we can’t control what others say about us, we can control how we respond. This requires self-regulation, collaboration, and a willingness to seek support. Making sure we’re really ready to respond constructively also takes a lot of selfreflection. Tips For Responding To ‘Ouch’ Moments 1. Sleep on it: If an email rolls in after school hours, it is completely acceptable to wait until the next school day to respond. If you’re concerned that parents will think you’re not accessible, set up an automatic reply alerting them to your teaching hours, which lets them know when you’ll be able to respond. So even if you see the email at night, you can get rest and refocus before you respond to it the next day. 2. Take a walk: Have you heard of email apnea? It occurs when you hold your breath unconsciously while reading emails, expecting trouble. The next time an email comes in with a subject line or sender that tends to send you through the roof, check your heart rate and your breathing. Before responding to a difficult post or email, I will often leave my office and walk around, spending time with the students I serve to regain perspective before I respond. Teachers might take time to play on the playground, or walk to the office and back, just to get a breath of fresh air and a little more perspective before rereading and responding. 3. Phone a friend or ask a friend before you hit Send: Not sure that your eightparagraph response is enough or more likely might be just a bit too much? (if you require more than a paragraph, don’t send, but request a meeting at a time which suits you). Ask another trusted teacher, coach, or even me to weigh in on your response. Often, we’re preoccupied with our own emotions in these conflicts, so having a neutral party review your response gives you a perspective outside of your own to reconsider and possibly revise your reply. This practice teaches all of us how to respond in a professional manner and the importance of seeking help when communicating something difficult. 4. Pick up the phone: Sometimes the best response is conveyed in real time. If you’re spending too much thinking, rethinking, and reviewing your email response to a heated question or concern, pick up the phone. Allowing the other party to hear your voice, and allowing yourself to hear theirs, creates a great opportunity for empathy, clarification, and understanding about the concern. If you think you don’t have time for this kind of conversation, think about whether you have time to rebuild or repair the relationship once it’s damaged. Be willing to start the conversation not with a right-or-wrong wrong approach but one focused on collaboration and finding solutions. No one loses when a common goal is established, one grounded in care and concern for all involved. There’s an opportunity for a ripple effect if you choose to lead communication with vulnerability and empathy: When you establish a common ground and build a sustainable relationship with a parent in tense circumstances, it becomes easier to do so in the future. The better you get at practicing this skill, the easier it becomes, and the more natural it is to generalize the attributes of positive communication to other relationships at work and at home. 5. Let it go: Sometimes the best response is not to have one. Maybe a parent hit Reply All to highlight the three spelling errors in your most recent newsletter. Or maybe you put a lot of time into a recent school event, only to see negative feedback from families in a thread on Facebook. You’ll never win a fight on social media, but don’t use that as an excuse to stop telling your school’s story. Showing grace in your interactions online requires that you use your communication skills to defuse difficult situations rather than exacerbate them. Ultimately, using strategies to build up your ability to handle difficult situations and conversations will allow you to free up space in your mind and reduce the stress in your day, giving you more time to engage in teaching and leading without worrying about the next notification that might pop up on your phone.A final thought: Too often we extend grace and forgiveness to others more easily than we receive it. But we should be open to receiving grace and forgiveness: Many of my ouch moments ended up being positive turning points in my relationship with a family, staff member, or student I would love to know the “little things” that you do in your classrooms to make a big impact. No matter when you start doing new things, it helps, Thank you for teaching! Enjoy the weekend!

“Teaching is a work of heart! Happy Teacher’s day!” I would like to begin by saluting the Baobab teachers, who toil day and night to ensure the overall development of our students. There are only a few beautiful souls in this world who dedicate their time, hard work, and life to give a bright future to every child whom we call Teachers. It’s a good day to remember those at the frontline of Education — teachers — who play the critical role of advancing the right to education and equipping students with 21st century skills. We have all had that teacher. The one that inspired us. The one that encouraged us to ask questions, discuss topics and research. The one that affected our choices of subject for university. The one that helped us get where we are today. The one that made learning fun. This year, our teachers are leading the way into a new type of classroom that has not yet been created. With the circumstances brought on by the pandemic since last year, our teachers have been working harder than ever. Many you had to transition to virtual learning and completely rework your teaching plans and living arrangements. Teachers are putting themselves at risk every day to make sure children get the best care possible. That’s why, this year, it’s especially important to celebrate and support Baobab teachers on our National Teacher’s Day. Today is a great opportunity to thank all of our teachers for all you do for the Baobab community today and every day. Once again, I extend my Thanks to all for today, our Teacher’s Day and pay my tributes to Baobab’s teachers for the countless sacrifices you have made. Our nation stands and rises on the shoulders of our teachers. Enjoy the weekend!

The Baobab staff have been nothing short of heroic and it is a privilege to work beside you during this difficult time. Although we face different challenges each day, we recognise that we are a school of enormous privilege and that many other schools in Gaborone, are even more vulnerable, at this stage. I am hoping and praying that teachers and school staff will be vaccinated in the coming weeks. This will bring much needed protection, to the staff, who place themselves and their families in harm’s way each and every day, to ensure that our students get the education they so desperately deserve. Self-motivation is key to the success of daily living. As teachers, it is imperative that we not only have realistic expectations on what our students can handle, but also, we must create a learning environment that sets ourselves up for success during these times. To understand the times we teach in, we must adequately address all the concerns staff have which is related to our responsibilities such as marking, moderating, student/parent/family contact, and consultations, planning for term 3, and preparation for our own professional learning via online webinars. Thank goodness our WiFi capabilities will assist with classroom management. Make use of the internet to broaden our students knowledge and interest in learning. Remember that you can’t inspire someone if we’re not taking care of ourselves. Everyone needs to be honest with themselves about when they need to recharge their batteries, and don’t be afraid to discuss it with management. Once you get past taking care of yourself, then you need to do what you have always done best when you are face-to-face with your students. That is, they need to have fun. We are all a little frazzled, but you have to have fun with teaching and find creative ways to connect with your colleagues and students. Project and Inquiry based tasks allow the students to express themselves, keep looking at ways to challenge them. We are looking at a staff inter-house song sing-along to show off to our students. We can livestream the event and I urged everyone to get behind the initiative and sing and have fun. Everyone has fun. Everyone feels good. Looking towards the Tokyo Olympics, lets tweak their interest in the games. A reminder that should you need to vent, or talk, you are free to express how you are doing and how you are feeling, my door is open. We must tend to our mental, emotional and physical demands and challenges, support each other, support the students.It’s about relationships, having fun on the job, loving the kids and making sure you are still inspiring people. Focus on service and stay positive. I’ve added a page or two of great sites to visit, especially now your classroom might have internet. I enjoyed the site where a celebrity reads a book to students, numerous options to be creative and change our educational strategy for a while. Have a safe, restful weekend.

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday He who thinks he knows doesn't know. He, who knows that he doesn't know, knows. True happiness involves the full use of one's power and talents. I use always use my full power and talents to have a Happy Friday! Any word you have to hunt for in a thesaurus is the wrong word. You never need to hunt for the meaning of having a Happy Friday! Eleven Ways to be Happy Hugs may not be on this list, but they should be. Especially for certain staff! Spend money on other people. Studies show "the happiest people were the biggest givers, no matter what they earned." Count your blessings. A study proved that people who wrote down three good things that happened to them every night were significantly happier than control group who did not. Try something new. People who try new experiences are generally happier, research has shown. Delay gratification. Anticipating happiness actually makes you happy. Studies have shown that it's human nature to forestall an enjoyable event. Expose yourself to more blue. Researchers showed that exposing yourself to the colour blue sent "self-confidence soaring, cut stress, and boosts happiness." Set goals for yourself. Psychologist Jonathan Freedman claims that people who set objectives for themselves are happier than those who don't. Go to church. In a study, people who attended church regularly responded that they were happier and more satisfied with their lives than people who were not religious. Sleep at least six hours every night. Six hours and 15 minutes a night of un-interrupted sleep makes for the happiest people, a study found. Make sure you have at least 10 good friends. Adults who said they had 10 good friends were happier than those who could count five or less close friends. Fake it 'til you make it. Several studies have shown that just the act of smiling can cause people to experience happy feelings. Have a romantic relationship. People in relationships were generally found to be happier than other people, and spouses have the highest sense of well-being whether they are happily married or not, according to a study. Of course, listening to "Don't Worry, Be Happy" always makes me smile. When I wake up, my premature optimism is always rewarded, especially when I have a Happy Friday!

Courage in the Classroom

Good morning, e-friendly staff. Curro Century City, like all schools, is a unique social environment. This year could be the very best year in your life; imagine that. This could be your year. You could be what you dream to be. You could achieve your patronising goals, and people around you could see you at your best. You have that capacity – but it’s going to take a little work on your part and a whole lot of courage. And I’d like to talk about courage a little this morning, because it can be confused with bravado and ego and posturing – and that’s as far away from real courage as wisdom is from foolishness. Courage, we can recognize, is derived from the same Latin root that gives us the French word, “coeur”– which means heart. In its simplest form, then, when we do what our hearts tell us to be right and good and true, we are acting courageously, and I think that that’s the purest definition of true, moral courage – and it’s so incredibly rare. We admire it in others when we see it, we often pray for a little bit of it at difficult moments in our lives, and we are very thankful at those rare instances when we exhibit for ourselves and others true moral courage. We will be all faced, at times in our lives when we need to be courageous, especially when those around us have lost their way. I started this note this morning with the idea that each day is a new start. Let me start the day by asking ask you to add courage in your heart, because without courage we will never dare to act on our core values of Respect, Responsibility, Honesty and Compassion. Without courage, those will be reduced to merely words on a wall and abstract ideas in your brain - and nothing else. You must hold the core values in your heart and have the courage to act on them in those moments in your life when they are called into question. Today, tomorrow and every day following, have the courage to be your best self. We all know what the right thing is to do; We aren’t perfect, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to become better each and every day. In closing I challenge you, as I challenge myself, to dare to be your best self. Listen to your heart, and dare to be courageous. Thank you for the work you do, and have a super weekend. Sean

Open Door Policy (what does it really mean?)

Open Door Policy (what does it really mean?) Open door: Everyone in Curro Century City should have access to my time. I welcome your input. I keep my door open for a reason, and when someone walks through it, no matter who you are, you are welcome. Open mind: Brilliant ideas can come from anywhere. I will listen carefully, welcome off-the-wall suggestions. If we stretch our mind – like a muscle, it will grow stronger. More muscle, the stronger we are. Open laptop: Grasp the power and necessity of engaging and enabling online. We must find ways to integrate educational topics on social media, using networks, videos, forums, and blogging. This is where everyone lives nowadays – we must join them. Open standards: Our mission is clear, but more importantly we must live it. You have to treat everyone by the same rules. And when a challenge arrives, keep people everyone informed. Nothing undermines morale more than whispers and unanswered questions. Open heart: We must reach each other on an emotional level. We must touch each child on some part in their heart and/or soul. I’m not talking about turning Curro into a group therapy session, or saying you have to dispense hugs (though hugs can be a very effective if done in a way that makes sense), but don’t be afraid to show some heart. Let us all work with sincerity and follow-through. Paying lip service is worse than doing nothing. It’s hollow and people see right through it.

Building School Character 2

Building a school’s character 2 Have you ever wondered why so many people have so little confidence in themselves - especially since they have so many skills and talents? Most self-doubt accumulates over a number of years, because as children we are criticized for our perceived weaknesses rather than applauded for our strengths. If you start counting all the negatives a child experiences in a day, year or lifetime, it's no wonder that many lack confidence in themselves. The bad things, the mistakes, the big red X’s are often given more attention." When you as a teacher see good things, beauty and potential in children, and make their strengths "psychologically visible" to them, it’s like magic. They grow to see it in themselves. Whether we're coaching, parenting, supporting a teammate or just being a friend, there is no substitute for genuine compliments. Kids are so starved for compliments they'll do just about anything for one. In fact that's the definition of the word "encouragement" - to "give courage to". The best teachers give out compliments a lot, without even thinking. That's why we will be creating a sense of self-confidence in every student by igniting hope and belief in them every single hour of each day through compliments here at Curro Century City. I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it - but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor. - Oliver Wendel Holmes

Building School Character 3

I believe children will flourish if we challenge them. At Curro Century City they must be educated, not to count up the cost of their burger and fries at McDonalds, but to own their own McDonalds. An old story is told of a curious little boy who constantly questioned his grandfather about many things in life. On one particular day he asked his weary grandfather, “What makes the glow worm light up at night?” The grandfather was not sure of the scientific explanation, so his response was simple, “It is the stuff inside of it.” Today’s research explains that glow worms are referred to as fireflies and its unique characteristic is due to the chemical luciferin and the enzyme lucrifase located inside of the insect’s abdomen. So, that grandfather was absolutely correct- The stuff inside of the glow worm caused it to light up! There is a connection we can make from the firefly illustration for our students and ourselves. We have great potential, possibility, and purpose inside of us that needs to come to light. As a school family, we have made great progress in the areas of achievement, the curriculum, and our extra-curricular activities. Our next major focus must centre on developing and nurturing our students’ interests, attitudes, and values. As a school family, we, too share the parents’ responsibility of leaving the right attitudes, values, and qualities. We must recognize the need to light up and stir up the good that is inside of our students. We are moving in the right direction although it may not always seem so. Yet, we need more than solid teaching to ensure our students become responsible as individuals. Our emphasis must be upon character and values, we will have the right stuff to shape positive attitudes and illuminate their total essence. You have the attitudes, you have the values, and you have the light. For those older than any McDonalds in South Africa, remember the words from the song “Shine a little light on me”.

Angry Birds

EVER PLAYED ANGRY BIRDS? All teachers and principals must deal with angry parents from time to time. In those times of heated passions, our responses carry great weight. A miscalculated response can backfire; it can fan the flames of a parent's upset and even burn bridges we've worked hard to build between school and home. That's why experienced principals use techniques aimed at extinguishing fires before they develop into full-fledged infernos. The key to controlling the blaze, most principals agree, is listening. LISTEN, AND THEN LISTEN SOME MORE The first thing when confronted by an upset parent is to smile and extend your hand. Invite the parent into an office and offer a seat. Doing that helps make the parent feel respected, and it communicates that I am willing to listen and try to find a solution to whatever is on their mind. As you are making the upset parent feel welcomed, also reminding yourself that the parent is usually not angry with you. Instead, the parent is usually upset by an event or something else in their life -- and it's your job to listen. Listening intently can go a long way toward resolving most problems. AND THEN LISTEN SOME MORE There is nothing worse than a parent who is upset and yelling in the halls where they are in earshot of students, teachers, and other parents. Almost always, parents calm down once they know that you are willing to listen and assist them. Empathy goes a long way in finding a solution to any problem we may be facing. Show genuine concern about a parent's feelings. Remain calm and offer the parent compassion. They need to let it out, and doing that will make them feel better. If you become angry or defensive, it becomes a power play -- and they feel helpless and lash out. It is better to show that you understand how they feel... even if their complaints might be out of your control. PUT YOURSELF IN THE PARENT'S SHOES "I just tell myself never to take a parent's upset personally," "That helps me remain calm, professional, and consistent."

Education, looking in all the wrong places

The story is told of a boy who was seen searching frantically for a coin he had lost. It was dark. The boy was down on his hands and knees beneath the corner street light looking for his coin. He was very intent. A man happened by and asked the boy what he was looking for. It went like this: Boy: "I dropped a coin and I'm trying to find it." Man: "Where did you drop the coin?" Boy: "Oh, I dropped it over there," as he pointed to a spot well beyond the area illuminated by the street light. Man: "If you dropped the coin over there, why are you looking for it over here?" Boy: "Because it's lighter over here." Like that little boy, the education decision makers of South Africa, over the centuries, have spent their time and energies - wasted their time and energies - looking in all the wrong places for the answers to education's most compelling and perplexing problems. Rather than looking for answers where the problems are, that is, in the classroom where education takes place, they have been looking elsewhere. In fact, they have been looking almost everywhere else. With what effect? Nothing of substance has changed. That is, the process of teaching children has not changed nor improved systemically in any measurable way. This is a centuries-old dilemma with which education has just never come to grips.

Building School Character 2

Have you ever wondered why so many people have so little confidence in themselves - especially since they have so many skills and talents? Most self-doubt accumulates over a number of years, because as children we are criticized for our perceived weaknesses rather than applauded for our strengths. If you start counting all the negatives a child experiences in a day, year or lifetime, it's no wonder that many lack confidence in themselves. The bad things, the mistakes, the big red X’s are often given more attention." When you as a teacher see good things, beauty and potential in children, and make their strengths "psychologically visible" to them, it’s like magic. They grow to see it in themselves. Whether we're coaching, parenting, supporting a teammate or just being a friend, there is no substitute for genuine compliments. Kids are so starved for compliments they'll do just about anything for one. In fact that's the definition of the word "encouragement" - to "give courage to". The best teachers give out compliments a lot, without even thinking. That's why we will be creating a sense of self-confidence in every student by igniting hope and belief in them every single hour of each day through compliments here at Curro Century City.

School's Character

A school needs to create a character or ethos of its own in order for the learners to identify with the school. These characteristics should be positive and inclusive for growth and traditions of excellence to be established. Lovedale (1824) in the Eastern Cape was a non-racial school which started with 11 black and 9 white children. It was a training institution where book learning and practical application (apprenticeship) went hand in hand. The first Xhosa dictionary was compiled at Lovedale. It was also a school in which values were promoted and where women were educated as early as 1869. Music was an important part of the curriculum. Lovedale was destroyed in 1954 and is now derelict. Healdtown (1854) was developed by Methodist Missionaries. In the nineteenth and early twentieth century it was also a centre of learning excellence. Its list of alumni is impressive and includes former president Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki (President Mbeki’s father) and Robert Sobukwe (the founder of the PAC). It is now derelict. These examples show how tender the life of a school of excellence can be. The powerful people who came from these buildings went on to influence the world, who knows who we have attending classes at the Curro Century City? Think about Curro Century City, and its vision, purpose and the future in relation to excellence in education. A teacher’s purpose is to manage and foster good traditions. A final question is “How do we water our seeds so that they grow into strong and powerful leaders?” Let’s see what we as a staff can grow together. February is a very tough month for both teachers and students. If you pace yourself, you can accomplish everything. Don't worry - everyone feels like they had the toughest workout of their life during the first weeks of school. The best piece of advice I have come up with is to not skip lunch - or breakfast. Many teachers do it; few can keep their eyes open when they return home. Remember to eat regularly during the day. Thanks for the sacrifices made this past month!

Standing up for people

"If we don't stand up for others, who will be left to stand up for us?" - Karen Traviss, author Have you ever worked with someone who defended you when you made a mistake, or, for honest reasons, performed badly on a task? Perhaps she put her own reputation on the line, and defended your actions to a senior manager. Or, maybe, she took responsibility for your mistake herself, or defended you from unjust criticism. If you have experienced this, it probably made a very deep impression on you, and strengthened the relationship you had with that person. What if this is reversed? Do you feel comfortable standing up for your own people in this way? And do you know when you should and shouldn't do this? When you stand up for people, you show that you're "on their side" when they need help. This builds long-term loyalty, trust, credibility, commitment, and morale in your team and it gives your people a confidence boost. It also shows that you are focused on your team's well-being and interests, rather than on yourself. This helps to create a positive working environment and shows everyone that you're a leader worth following. When things go well, you all share the credit and rewards. The same should be true when things don't go well. However, you shouldn't defend your people's actions in all circumstances. For instance, you can end up looking foolish if you jump to the defence of someone who has done something genuinely bad or unethical, and you should avoid defending your people as a way of manipulating them to "pay you back" for your loyalty in the future. Make sure that you stand up for your people when they deserve it - it's an essential part of good management, and it helps to lay the foundations of trust and high morale in your team. Thanks for a successful week, enjoy the weekend!

knock em dead!

Let’s help each other through the first days, and every day, as we work to bring about educational change and do what’s best for kids! For those who don’t know, the principal is at the center of all the relationships between parents, students, teachers, external ideas and arbitrary people. On average per year we face 2,000 interactions per day – that’s what principals encounter. Did you know that as a principal, we feel guilty at the end of the day because we didn’t accomplish everything we set out to? We are addicted to the social aspect of our role and get fidgety in meetings because they’re slow and we crave those personal interactions Nearly every effective educator I have worked with in my career has excelled in the area of interpersonal skills. Although no list of such traits can be thoroughly exhaustive, I do hope that you will peruse those offered below following the first two parents’ evenings. Let’s focus on these human relations skills as we embark upon a noble journey: teaching young Curro people who need and crave our guidance! Be willing to admit when you’re wrong. Be able to laugh (a good sense of humor) and cry (display empathy and sensitivity). Take time to help others. Remember how it felt to be a child. Be able to resolve conflicts between people. Enjoy working with people of all ages. Truly care about others. Realize that you can’t please everyone. Thank you all for your prodigious efforts this week; thank you all for the human relations skills you already possess and practice daily. Well, nearly all of you. Let’s remember the importance of these as we progress through this year. I can’t wait to see you all in action next week! You hold the keys to success for our students; unlock their hearts and their minds. Have an outstanding week and knock ‘em dead (not literally, of course)!

Let’s help each other through the first days, and every day, as we work to bring about educational change and do what’s best for kids! And thus ends the day in the life of a principal. d approaches to improving the school and our relationship. Some articles will be specific and others general enjoy reading and please stay in touch. ) The principal is at the center of all the relationships between parents, students, teachers, external ideas and arbitrary people. 2,000 interactions every day – that’s what principals encounter. Did you know that as a principal, we feel guilty at the end of the day because we didn’t accomplish everything we set out to? We are addicted to the social aspect of our role and fidgety in meetings because they’re slow and we crave those personal interactions