Aspire, Strive, Achieve, Inquire, Create, Flourish, Be Respectful, Be Resilient, Be Responsible. Every school has values. Values guide what we do and what we stand for. Values help make it clear how we treat and interact with each other. Values help build a community.
At Carey, we treasure our values of Care, Respect and Growth. With this year’s theme centring on Respect, and considering the adage ‘actions speak louder than words’, I have asked our Middle School Captains, Fletcher and Amelia, how they see Respect playing out this year.
Probably due to the emphasis teachers are placing on our Ready and Learning Plan, their first comments revolved around respecting the School by taking pride in your appearance, leaving your phone in your locker, being on time and bringing all materials to class. They clearly believe that respecting boundaries, following the rules and not pushing the limits too far is being respectful. And of our new House leaders, they said ‘it’s good that they put their hand up to lead the School and we should all respect their efforts … but it’s not easy organising House Swimming!’
As the conversation warmed up, the notion of respecting yourself emerged. Amelia and Fletcher thought it was respectful to put your best foot forward, to focus on learning and not to be scared of the challenge of learning new things. ‘Sometimes classmates say, “are you going to study for the test?” And I always say “yes”,’ says Amelia. ‘If you work hard, ask for help and learn from each other you will often be successful.’ She continued, ‘You are not going to learn something by just being at Carey, you have to respect that there is a learning process.’
Our conversation became more outwardly focussed when Fletcher, thinking of Middle School’s 300 new students and teachers, said of respecting the community, ‘No one should feel pressured or devalued because of who they are. We should be inclusive, and we should listen to people with different opinions and backgrounds.’ Amelia and Fletcher certainly want everyone, old or new, to feel welcome, and they would really like to help in any way they can … ‘Just come up and say hi or send us an email.’
It was truly a wonderful conversation. Amelia and Fletcher have enthusiasm, energy and warmth and I am certain that they will be outstanding role models, demonstrating the Carey values throughout the year ahead.
There will be many opportunities for students to learn about and enact Respect. Our new Complex Competency ‘Acting Ethically’ is sure to bring rich conversation and deep thinking as teachers and students consider elements such as ‘acting with judgement’ and ‘navigating diverse interests’. Our new Forum space will also allow students to respect each other as their peers take centre stage and use the Forum to speak, debate, interview and perform!
A quick reminder that Middle School Meet-the-Mentor sessions are online on Monday 17 February after school. These will be a wonderful opportunity to share important information about your child with their Mentor. I am sure that the conversations will be respectful!
Meredith Plaisted
Head of Middle School
