STUDENT GOAL SETTING

This year we will continue with our Goal Setting program. We introduced
this last year with our students and it was wonderful to witness the growth
they made when creating and reflecting on their goals over the course of
the year. Members of the Executive Team will visit each grade to work
alongside the classroom teachers to help the students create their Term 1
SMART goals. Students will revise that SMART goals need to be:

*S*pecific
*M*easurable
*A*ctionable
*R*ealistic
*T*imely

This mnemonic or acronym, created in the 1960s is a simple way to remember
how to create goals, however as students become more proficient in creating
goals, the next step is to generate a plan to achieve each goal. This is
where the real ownership of goal accomplishment takes place. That is, the
process of achieving an outcome is about having a plan with the purpose of
working toward that outcome….

*It’s the process of living with intention and letting life happen FOR us
rather than TO us. *(Brian Tracy).

We know that spending time focussing on their goals will:

- Provide a sense of agency and a sense of purpose (development of
self-assurance)
- Increase self-management skills - (supporting the growth of
independence and resilience)
- Provide opportunities for developing and experiencing intrinsic
motivation. We know that children often respond well to a system of
external rewards. However, we know that intrinsic goal pursuits can result
in increased performance and persistence over time. They help us connect
with values that strongly influence longer term wellbeing.
- Working towards a goal and making this explicit to the students gives
them the learning experience of delayed gratification and perseverance. Not
every success in life is instant.

Our students will focus on the following three areas:

Wellbeing Goal
Academic Goal
Digital Wellness Goal

A child’s goals will be recorded in their diary. Parents are encouraged to
have a discussion at home about the Term 1 SMART goals they have set for
themselves, and to celebrate accomplishments along the way to promote
persistence and encourage confidence. We ask that you talk to your child
about the growth in the process, even if the specific goal is not achieved

*‘if you reach for the moon and miss, you’ll end up in the stars’*.

Thanks @engin akyurt for the great photo

Larissa Cameron Deputy Principal