Dear Parents/Carers,                                                                        

As we come to the end of the term I am in a reflective mindset, probably a good thing considering we are in Lent. During the term I have given a set of 5 pictures, all the same to three different students to assist them to self regulate their own anxiety. The picture included has a very important message, not just to the three students I shared it with but for us all I am sure, as we try and navigate this parenting thing.

Over ten years ago a student, at a school where I was principal, had huge separation issues based on anxiety. On this particular day the cross country (very much like ours) was being held down at the local playing fields and the child refused to go. When I got to the bottom of it, the child was fearful of leaving the school because of a back story directly related to the anxiety.

At the time, I wanted the child to understand that there are so many times where we deny ourselves of new experiences or experiences we might actually enjoy simply because sometimes new things can come across scary. How many times as a child did you not go on a ride at the Camden Show because you were too scared? How many times as a child did you stop yourself from participating in something simply because of your own fear?

On this day I said to the child:

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass,

It’s about learning to dance in the rain!”

Two years later, after finishing Year 6 the child left the school and gave me a painting, which is the picture shared with you. This painting had pride of place on the wall in my office and has done so in three of the six schools I have led. Every morning I undertake a little ritual, where I look at the painting and I pray:

“Please God, don’t let one fall through the cracks today!”

There are now three students at our school who have small laminated palm size photos of this picture. In fact they have five copies, one for their bedside drawer, one for their school bag, one for their pencil case, one for mum or dad and one to keep in their pocket if they can feel the dark fog of anxiety creeping into their world. It is there to remind them not to let the things that worry them stop them from doing things that potentially they might enjoy or find exciting.

May the Easter Triduum be a story of hope to you all as we go on vacation during the week of Holy Week. Our Easter journey is a story of “victory” through “failure”, and is the greatest message about hope that I know.

The story that I have shared with you in the final newsletter for the term, comes a close second story of hope for me. With this story I also say thank you to the students, parents and staff who continue to remind me to dance in the rain.

May the risen Christ this Easter bring great joy and happiness to you and your family.