MARK LE MESSURIER
Insights into the Adolescent Brain (see flyer)

Developing resilience in young people
Wednesday 20 March 2019

All of us need to experience our share of hardship, failure, disappointment and fear in order to grow into confident and resilient adults.  Any parent who has helped a child take their first steps, learn to swim or ride a bike knows this.  While doing everything we can to limit the bruises or a lung full of water, we know that they are a small price to pay for the freedom and independence that will come from mastering the skill.

As an adolescent it is easy to forget that the parents who seem like the strictest parents in the world, are the same people who gave birth to me and nurtured me before I could speak or walk.  Until we become parents, it is almost impossible to understand how difficult it is to let go of our natural instincts to protect our children.  Yet let go we must, if our children are to grow into confident and capable adults.

When our children leave school and enter the world of work, they will usually not get a say in who they work with.  They may be overlooked for promotions.  As Scientists and Engineers, they will have the persistence to work through many prototypes that fail before finding success.  So, while doing everything we can to optimise their learning and personal development during childhood, there is great value, for our children's long-term success, in not over doing it. Often, there are great (albeit unintended) outcomes that come from being allocated to a class or team that doesn't have any of my friends in, or a teacher who is not my favourite.  Often, it is outside our existing 'comfort zone' that we discover new joys, new friends and great things about ourselves.

Learning how to get along with others, resolve disputes and accept constructive criticism are indispensable life skills. Identifying and making the most of such teachable moments is important work, just as important as teaching children how to walk.

Thought for the Week

Do not judge me by my success.
Judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.

- Nelson Mandela

Brian Schumacher
Principal

Even more impressive was later that same day, the Rostrevor College Swimming Team achieved only their second outright victory at an Inter-College swim meet for five and a half years! This is an incredible feat and all credit must go to Mrs. Mary Ford, Mr. Adam Whitefield and all of the participating students who have been brilliant this year. Some of the students who achieved victories in the swimming races actually participated in the Triathlon earlier that day, and should be commended on their grit, determination and quite simply displaying an enormous amount of heart and courage in the process. It's this approach we are continually aiming to build across all activities, and there are positive signs that this is slowly becoming 'the norm'.

From a community aspect, we've had a number of parents and old scholars taking on the role as coach, team manager, scorer or avid supporter early in the Term. What this has created is a positive, friendly and somewhat energetic atmosphere on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings (although the warm weather may have a large role in this). The support for our students and their endeavours is remarkable and I thank each and every one of you for contributing to the growing culture at Rostrevor College.
Long may it continue.

If your son, be he a current or past scholar, has made any significant achievement in an activity outside of the College, please pass this on to me via email to lmanuel@rostrevor.sa.edu.au or by phone, so that I can include his achievements in the weekly newsletter.

For a full list of results from the weekend's fixtures, please click the link below:

Luke Manuel
Head of Co-Curricular Programs