Our focus value this month is Growth, and we have had many great examples of students demonstrating this value over the last fortnight. One example of students living up to the New Norfolk Way expectation to Be Your Best was our valiant Year 8 Netball team who went undefeated during the regular season. Unfortunately, they didn’t get the result they were aspiring for in the semi-final but, as the Matildas have so recently demonstrated, that is still a significant achievement worthy of being celebrated.

Another group demonstrating a willingness to New Norfolk Way expectation to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone were the Y10-12 students who travelled to Devonport for the Fearless Festival. They undertook this multi-day trip to fulfill the Adventurous Journey requirement of their Duke of Edinburgh Award, which required them to going on an expedition or exploration in an unfamiliar and challenging environment with an agreed Team Goal.

In this case, they engaged in networking, learning new skills and were exposed to a range of new trade and career options. They also attended the Gala Dinner featuring keynote speakers who are high achievers in their respective fields, including the Governor, Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker AC, Lietenant General Natasha Fox, the Commanding Officer and Chief Instructor at the Australian Defence Force Academy and Madeline Habib, Shipping Officer for the World Food program.

Finally, all those involved in our Science Week activities did a magnificent job of living up to our recent fortnightly focus to Have a Growth Mindset. This was demonstrated by the significant number of students who engaged with the Brain Break morning tea, all of those who ran activities for local primary schools at our Science Expo, as well as those who put their hand up to go on the excursion to the Festival of Bright Ideas at Salamanca. This list is by no means comprehensive but gives a great snapshot of the many and varied ways in which our students are demonstrating Growth.

Mr Stuart Lord