Winter Uniform Reminder:
Please remember at the commencement of Term 2, we are in full Winter uniform for Term 2 and 3. If you have any concerns with accessing the correct uniform, please do not hesitate to contact me at the College.
Midford Uniform Shop Holiday Trading Hours:
The last Trading day for Term 1 will be Thursday 6 April, closing at 4 pm.
The Uniform Shop will open in the 2nd week of the holidays on:
Thursday 20 April, 12pm to 5pm
Saturday 22 April, 10am to 2pm
They will also be open from 8am until 11am on Wednesday 26 April (1st day Term 2), and then return to normal Trading Hours on Thursday 27 April which are 8am to 4pm Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Please note: No cash sales, eftpos only.
Student communication reminder:
PARENT/GUARDIAN REMINDER: Student contact home procedure
Lately, we have had some cases where students have contacted parents or guardians directly from their mobile phones at school. Due to this happening, we as a school do not have the opportunity to follow our processes as a College in dealing with the matter at hand. It is essential that students follow the correct channels when reporting issues and that parents and guardians support us by referring their son/daughter through the correct procedure. If for some reason a parent or guardian is contacted, please ring the College and we can help deal with the matter in the appropriate way.
As per our policy, students are not to use their phones in classes and contact should be made through the office or teacher/leadership member following up a particular matter. It may look like this: Student issue – report directly to teacher of class – if not available, report to Year Level Coordinator – if not available, seek the office or a member of leadership. At no point in time should a student contact home as this can hinder our processes as a College, as we may not be clear on what is happening if there has been an incident, or if a student is sick, and parents arrive, it can be the first we have heard of the matter. We appreciate your continued support regarding this matter.
Article of the week: Being a good listener is so important and what this looks like when we are engaged in conversation is important. Please find below some tips and information on being a good listener.
How to be a good listener
When we’re having conversations with friends, or someone is sharing a challenge with us, most of the time we listen to respond, when in reality, it’s more important we listen to understand.
When we’re being an empathetic listener, we’re prioritising listening to the other person rather than talking ourselves – and this can be easier said than done! While we might not be saying as much, in reality, we are often helping that person more than we know by simply showing we care and that we’re paying attention.
The next time someone comes to you with a problem, try to remember these three key rules;
- Don’t judge.
- Don’t fix.
- Don’t get into the drama.
Other tips we like for listening well include…
- Pay attention. Put the phone down, turn to face the person.
- Be present. Try to not think about what you are going to say next or to jump in when they are still speaking.
- Show interest. Ask questions, nod.
- Practise empathy. Try to put yourself in the speaker’s shoes.
- Repeat what you heard, to clarify that you are understanding.
It can be harder than it sounds to follow these rules, especially when it comes to not offering solutions. It is natural that we want to help the person who is having a difficult time. Keep in mind, feeling heard is often the biggest help, so you are already doing plenty just by being there.
Of course, you don’t want to be lost for words either. Here are some things you can practise saying that will help you avoid falling into old habits;
Remember, being an empathetic listener is all about showing that you care and listening actively to what the person is saying. These phrases are starting points to show empathy, but the most important thing is to respond genuinely and authentically.
Mr Sam Johnstone
Deputy Principal: Pastoral Care and Well-being