To start our school year, students at St Matthias have been exploring what it means to be a student at our school. The whole school focused on the idea of being Ready to Learn, being Respectful and being Resilient. This is the foundation of what it means to be a member of our school community!
· Being Ready to Learn involves being well prepared and equipped for the school day to enable everyone to make the most of the learning experiences each day.
· Respect is a very important foundation in the development and maintenance of a healthy learning environment. It is respect that opens space for the development of trust and learning.
· Being resilient gives students the ability to tackle life and school head-on, bounce back from any setbacks and have the best chance at succeeding. It allows them to learn and grow in all situations – two skills that are crucial to wellbeing and development.
Students talked about these ideas with their form tutors and also took part in assemblies on each theme. As part of our student voice, students were then asked to share their own ideas of what it means to be respectful and resilient in our school. We were extremely proud of their responses! Here is a small sample of what they shared:
I think respect means:
“That we should treat people how we want to be treated”
“It means that you are not rude to anyone and always treat people the way you would want to be treated”
“Being nice to teachers and other members of staff. You can be respectful by having manners”
“When you show that you care and follow rules or do what someone else says”
“Not talking when someone else is, and listening to each other”
“To be kind to people, let them speak when they need to and to not have any arguments. Listen to each other. Treat them how you want to be treated and they will be good to you.”
Treat everyone fairly and equally”
“Treating someone how you would want to be treated and to be grateful for what you have and what you have been given”