E A R LY L E A R N I N G U P D AT E
Parent seminar We were privileged to host a Parent Seminar, presented by John Cowan. This entertaining evening of wit, wisdom and practical strategies provided our families with skills to keep their head, health and relationships flourishing, while still being a great parent.
On Thursday 25 March we were privileged to hear John Cowan speak about the importance of healthy relationships within our households amidst ever-changing complex family dynamics. John was Creative Producer at The Parenting Place for more than twenty years, presenting seminars authoring most of their courses, manuals and material. For fifteen years he has hosted a top-rating interview show, Real Life with John Cowan on NewstalkZB. He has weekly slots on a range of radio stations and is frequently on television. He emphasised the importance of being kind to the people in your immediate family and to be a strong role model for your children through this kindness . For it is in these close relationships that we are “truly vulnerable, yet safe; exposed, yet trusting”. John stated, “Invest in your relationship to be a good parent.” It was refreshing to be reminded that as parents we are all experiencing similar challenges, that it is OK to reach out for help and that we should not be disheartened when our lives are not Pinterest perfect. “Settle for less and settle for mess,” he
Wellbeing at Kristin
Kristin prides itself on preparing its students to be Future Ready. The appointment of a Director of Wellbeing signals the importance placed on wellbeing for students, staff and our wider community. While wellbeing has become a catch phrase in the modern world, when we look at the science behind enabling communities to thrive and meet their full potential, we start to see a strong evidence-based practice where we can ensure effective change. Kristin already has many strengths in place to support student wellbeing; from support structures within each school, the Wellness Team, and a number of curriculum-based education initiatives, we have a strong base to begin this journey from. The shift over the coming year will be moving to a whole-school approach to wellbeing. This involves analysing and evaluating every level of the school’s operations for both staff and students. To make change in any area of health, we need to understand both change dynamics, and public health concepts that involve building ownership of the project by the whole community. Wellbeing also means different things in different cultures, religions and other
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