Beginnings…
It has been a privilege to serve as Head of Secondary over the past three weeks at Calvin Christian School.
By no means has it been easy and plenty of mistakes have been made as I learn new systems and ways of being. However, the staff and students have been very welcoming and made me feel welcome to the Calvin community.
Life is full of transitions and new beginnings can signify fresh opportunities, challenges and a chance for growth. They can be an opportunity to leave behind the past and embrace what lies ahead. Although new beginnings can be exciting, they can also bring about uncertainty. I know that many of our Year 7 students would have had a similar feeling to me over the past fortnight as they started their Secondary School journey.
Starting something new often requires courage. Fear of failure can be debilitating and can often hold us back. However, if we trust in God’s plan, we can gather the strength to move forward. Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” If we start with faith and place our trust in God, we can face uncertainty with confidence knowing that God is guiding us.
“Starting something new often requires courage.”
As we start this new academic school year, I want to encourage all of our students that new beginnings can also teach us virtues such as persistence and resilience. We will all face challenges, however, working through these setbacks with a growth mindset can help us to overcome our challenges. Having a growth mindset, is the ability to believe that our abilities can increase over time. The continual refinements in our approaches can lead to the mastery of new skills and knowledge.
In Assembly last week, our Head of Students, Mr Huber asked me what my number one piece of advice for our students was. My reply was for them to establish good habits early. Habits such as study, creating good routines, and getting on top of work early can reduce worry and prepare students for times when the workload increases. I would also encourage students to reduce their screen time and establish good sleep habits. A good night’s sleep is crucial in improving cognitive abilities such as memory, focus and attention. Developing a growth mindset as well as starting the new year establishing good habits for study are all key ingredients in achieving academic growth in 2025.
Drew Roberts - Head of Secondary
