RESPECT at MLC Junior School

The MLC School value of Respect is our focus for Term 3.

Respect means that you accept somebody for who they are, even when they’re different from you or you don’t agree with them. Respectful relationships build feelings of trust, safety, and wellbeing. Respect doesn’t have to come naturally – it is something you can learn and earn.

Respect is a basic building block of all social emotional learning. Once children understand that respect is about caring how they impact others, they can develop social skills around courtesy, having positive relationships, being part of a team and other essential skills for success.

Showing ourselves respect is the first step. If we respect ourselves, that is, treat ourselves with kindness, compassion and care then we are in a great position to respect others.

Respecting others is very important in our social interactions and, in general, to peers and others within our school, local and wider communities. Within our diverse School respect is foundational to being welcoming and inclusive.

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation gives us seven ideas to make someone else feel respected. Talk to your children about trying one of these each day:

•  Use people’s names (it makes the other person feel known and worthy).
•  Express sincere gratitude (this is good for our wellbeing).
•  Do more listening than talking (seek first to understand others).
•  Talk more about the other person than about yourself (this shows interest).
•  Be authentically interested.
•  Be sincere in your praise.
•  Show you care (actions speak louder than words).

Last term I wrote about the Golden Rule: treat others how you would like to be treated. This is all about respect for self and others.

Finally, respect for the environment, property and belongings is also so important. That we are not wasteful and, like our First Nations People, respecting and caring for the environment brings us into a harmonious relationship with the earth. And don’t we all want to leave the earth in a good place for our future generations?

I wonder if you can find ways of talking about and practising respect at home?

– Joanne Sharpe
Deputy Head of Junior School – Wellbeing