Early in the school year, I came across two students who were new to our School.
Walking together and obviously enjoying each other’s company, I assumed that they had a well-established connection with one another. Interested to find out, I asked them if they had known each other prior to starting at Calvin. Their response surprised me. They quickly told me that they had only met each other on the Orientation Day. That short interaction had been enough to spark a connection that grew into a friendship in the first days of the new school year.
Knowing how challenging it can be to start something new, it is encouraging to see students find ‘their place’ as they build relationship with peers and teachers. For some, this can take time. A parent recently told me that her child liked to watch and observe before committing himself to relational connections and this is exactly what he did, reminding me that I need not have been concerned by his initial quiet period of observation. There isn’t one best way to engage but relationships remain critical to our growth and development as human beings.
That building relationships has become more challenging for a generation retreating into virtual connections, is perhaps observable in our increasingly child-free ovals and streets on weekends. The American social psychologist Jonathan Haidt notes that, for many of our ‘hyper-connected’ young people, face-to-face interaction can be increasingly difficult. He suggests that even when they “…appear to be doing something in the real world, such as sitting in class, eating a meal, or talking with you, a substantial portion of their attention is monitoring or worrying (being anxious) about events in the social metaverse”[1].
“There isn’t one best way to engage but relationships remain critical to our growth and development as human beings. ”
Apart from the important job of putting limits on screen time, ensuring that we as parents and educators are present and engaged is one of the positive ways that we can support our children. I am constantly encouraged by the effort that our teachers make to build relationship and connection with our students. This doesn’t mean that the teacher is their best friend of course, it is not that type of relationship, but it does mean that our students are in a place where they are known and seen. Parent surveys indicate that this is a big part of the reason why Christian schools are growing. Our parents value the relationship and care offered by Christian schools and are flocking to them[2]. If you would like to share or hear more stories about how Christian Schools are impacting the lives of this generation, take the time to visit and support MyChristianSchool.au.
We value the connection with you and your child. As Christian educators, our values are clear and reflected, in part, through the strength of our community and relationships. Relationships matter and Scripture reminds us of this when it says that ‘we love because (God) first loved us’. For me, this is a reminder that we are created to reflect our Maker through relationships and that our relationship with God is shown through our care and concern for others.
Scott Ambrose - Principal
[1] J.Haidt cited in P.Kelly (30 March 2024); “Big Tech and the shock to childhood”; the Weekend Australian Magazine, p.13
[2] V.Cheng (3 January 2024); “Hopes for 2024: Flourishing Christian Schools”; Eternity Magazine