Michele Marquet, Acting Head of School
Dear Parents and Carers
Our first full week of classes has brought a palpable buzz and busy atmosphere across the School. Sport and co-curricular activities are getting started and our campuses are really coming to life.
New students at Pre-School, Junior School and Senior School are also starting to settle into routines and find their way about the campuses.
This term’s wellbeing theme across the whole School is ‘to be courageous’. Every year, as students move up a year level, take on new opportunities, and meet new teachers and peers, they have opportunities to practise what it means to be courageous. Our new students and staff to Cranbrook or students who are moving from one of our campuses to another, no matter what their age, will be acutely aware of this!
In student wellbeing classes, Assemblies and other events, we are considering what it really means to be courageous in different contexts. We hope through these discussions, our students come to understand what true courage looks like and how it can positively shape your character and prepare you for challenges that lie ahead.
Although many people believe courage is an absence of fear, in reality, it involves facing fears head-on and not avoiding them. Bravery is not about never feeling afraid – but rather about how we act when we may feel scared or frightened and how in the moment when we are feeling afraid, we chose to act. Brave actions are not about recklessness or unsafe risk taking, but rather will consider the consequences of our actions.
In times past, courage and bravery were associated with physical feats. This can still be true, but in our era, facing our fears can be just as much about standing up for what we believe is right, despite opposition or danger, as showing strength and heroism physically. Fear can actually drive our determination to act and to be courageous – pushing us beyond our usual limits and inspiring positive change.
Courageousness and bravery are about weighing risks and deciding something is worth standing up for or fighting for, even when outcomes are uncertain or frightening. To face one’s fears, we need to start to make brave choices in our everyday life and that is what we hope to help our students to recognise.
The key points above and the following tips are taken from the blog, Courage is not the absence of fear: Understanding the essence of bravery.
Practical tips for embracing courage
- Acknowledge your fears and confront them head-on. Ignoring or suppressing fear only gives it more power over you.
- Cultivate a growth mindset by viewing challenges as opportunities for personal development rather than obstacles.
- Surround yourself with supportive and encouraging individuals who uplift and inspire you to be brave.
- Practice self-care to maintain emotional resilience, such as meditation, exercise, and sufficient rest.
- Set small, achievable goals that gradually push you out of your comfort zone, building confidence with each accomplishment.
- Seek constructive feedback from trusted mentors or peers to gain valuable insights and improve your approach to overcoming fears.
- Take decisive action despite lingering doubts or uncertainties; small steps forward can lead to significant breakthroughs in courage.
We hope all our families enjoying a productive and happy week ahead.
Kind wishes
Michele Marquet
Acting Head of School