Attitude. When used as a stand-alone word it is often a derogatory term or a put-down. Someone who has ‘attitude’ is generally someone who is negative towards life. Yet, when used in the context of school we often ask students to have a good attitude. What does this mean? Can we make someone have a good attitude?

This term, at GCCC, it is the value we are focusing on as a part of our GREAT values acronym.

There are many great sayings that speak clearly on having a good attitude. Such as:

‘The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.’ Unknown.

‘What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty and every difficulty has an opportunity.’ J. Sidlow Baxter.

However, the Bible says, ‘Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it’ (Proverbs 4:23). Attitude is represented by our words and deeds. Whether it is good or bad it will be a direct result of what is in our hearts. And this can be achieved by ‘not being conformed to this world, but by the renewal of our minds, that by testing we will be able to discern the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.’ Romans 12:2

One way we can improve a bad attitude is by performing acts of kindness, or, fostering an attitude of gratitude. A study on clinical depression demonstrated that people with low self-esteem who performed acts of kindness for a week actually moved from clinical depression to not being depressed. Our Year 9s at the end of last term were all involved in a Community Service activity. Read more about this in this newsletter.

Our up and coming Student Led Conferences are another way to foster more positive attitudes where students are more in charge of their own learning. The conference reflects the belief that the student should be actively involved in their learning and allowed to take responsibility for the learning process. It enables students to become more motivated, reflective and evaluative of their work. AND, become more critical about their approach to learning. These will be run in week 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon and evening. Bookings can be made through the online booking format.

Reminders and other Info

* French Trip – interested students must complete the form and return to school by 31 July. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to see and experience first hand the French language and culture, the Arts, history and other interesting aspects of this country and its people.

* Textbooks can be returned to the library if students have the electronic version on their iPads and no longer use the hardcopy.

* The assessment procedure this semester will be – extensions need to be applied for 48 hours before the due date and will not automatically mean an extension is given. Assessments not handed in by the due date will result in a text message sent home. Any student who does not hand in the outstanding assessment by the end of the day will result in an afterschool detention as a consequence. The student will also be withdrawn from regular classes to complete the outstanding task.

* Term 3 Assessment Planners will be available from week 3 on the website and will also be accessible on student’s Moodle accounts.

Jacqualina Vreeling, Head of Middle School