140th Birthday Picnic Celebration
What a day we had! Our 140th Birthday Picnic Celebration was such a special occasion. It started with some rain, but it ended up being the perfect day for it. Thank you to the families who attended and to our staff who were also able to join us. But our biggest thanks goes to the incredible parents who coordinated the event. To Sylvia T (Dion Yr 5 & Jaymie Yr 3) and Charmaine F (Charlotte Yr 5 & Juliette Yr 3) thank you for your hard work, organisation and passion to make this school event so memorable and special.
To our parents and volunteers who helped serve ice cream and cake, welcomed guests and handed out wristbands, we are so grateful: Natasha P (Sofia Y5, Alexander Yr 3, Charlotte Yr 2), Amy B (Isla Yr 5), Meredith R (Billy Yr 5, Isabel Yr 3 & Charlie K), Karen J (Tasha Yr 5), Dion T Yr 5, Jaymie T Yr 3, Charlotte F Yr 5, Juliette Yr 3, Louise Z (Evie MZ Yr 5) and Margo J (Evie J Y4 5).
We are looking forward to coming together for more celebrations throughout the year to celebrate 140 Years of Claremont College.
Integrity - How Do You Behave When No One is Watching?
Integrity is being true to yourself. It’s when the ‘inside you’ is the same as the ‘outside you’. People with integrity generally live by statements such as ‘I am true to my values’, ‘I always follow up on my commitments’ or ‘it is more important to be yourself than be popular’. It’s when people ‘accurately represent - publicly and privately - their internal states, intentions and commitments’ (Peterson & Seligman 2004, p250).
Most of us aspire to live consistently, to hold values, and to have an ideal of our best self that we strive towards. But acting with integrity isn’t always easy. In today’s world, the rise of social media makes this even more challenging with increased pressure to show unrealistic or ‘glossy’ versions of oneself - like a performance for an audience. Integrity means a promise is a promise. It means keeping confidence no matter how interesting. It involves honesty and respect. And it means eliminating the phrase ‘I would have but…’ Behaving with integrity can take real effort, especially when no one is there to witness it. When we are in a high pressure situation, we need integrity and remain guided by our own ‘north star’ principles (George, 2007).
At Claremont, we have a wonderful school community, full of people who are selfless and community-minded. Parents and staff give generously of their time, energy and resources to help others. Many feel motivated to do good for others without expecting a benefit for themselves. Our students too, show and are encouraged to show altruism through small acts of courtesy: holding a door open, offering to carry things for others, being helpful and sharing belongings.
When we hear our Year 6 students being patient and understanding of differences, we think integrity.
When we hear of our students such as Chloe B in Year 2 stop to consider the opportunities they are given to serve the community and how that could benefit others, we think integrity.
When we hear of Tom H and Jayden T in Year 2 cleaning up their learning space without knowing anyone is watching, we think integrity.
When we hear of Alastair LP in Year 5 taking initiative and being honest, we think integrity.
When we hear of Lily P in Year 4 consistently being kind, compassionate and showing respect for all, we think integrity.
Let’s continue to recognise, value and celebrate integrity wherever we can.
“Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:18-19
Mrs Larissa Cameron
Co-Principal
‘Drop Off’ and ‘Pick Up’ Update
Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding with our traffic management system. For ‘Drop Off’ in the mornings, please remember that your child/ren must not be dropped to school before 8:15am. Children arriving at school before the supervised 8:15am start will need to be supervised by TeamKids. The ideal time to drop your child to school is between 8:15am and 8:30am. This allows for your child/ren to greet their peers and teachers, unpack and feel ready and settled for their learning.
For ‘Pick Up’ in the afternoons, we urge you not to queue in the carlines too early. We have noticed some cars are arriving from 2:30pm, which is only creating a backlog of cars. This is a safety issue for our school and local community. We have had our neighbours express concerns about cars blocking laneways, queuing for an unnecessary amount of time, and for making U-turns. We expect all of our parents and carers to be mindful of our neighbours, and to follow our Traffic Management Plan. In the afternoons, please aim to arrive at school from 3:15pm onwards. The closer you arrive to 3:30pm, the quicker it is for you and the safer it is for everyone.
Mrs Larissa Cameron
Co-Principal
Goal Setting Meetings
Our Goal Setting Meetings started today, and they will be continuing into next week. You will receive a link the day before your meeting is scheduled. Please remember to be on time for this appointment. The teachers are looking forward to discussing your child’s Academic, Wellbeing and Digital Wellness goals with you. This meeting is an important way for the staff to meet with parents and students, and to connect and work collaboratively to ensure your child/ren have a productive year of learning and positive experiences connecting with their peers. Please refer to Mrs Ford’s article in last week’s newsletter and Miss McKersie’s article from the week prior, for more information.
Mrs Larissa Cameron
Co-Principal
Marnie L
