It has been an enjoyable week talking to staff and girls in the Senior School, Barbreck and ELC. Everyone certainly appears very relaxed and refreshed after the three-week break. Whilst many have sun kissed faces from relishing holidays abroad, many also enjoyed holidays locally in Victoria and at the snow at Mt Buller. I wish all our Snowsports families safe travels and a wonderful family weekend at Mt Buller for the annual House Snowsports event this weekend. This year, we have approximately 80 girls participating in the House competition. I wish all our snowsports athletes well for the season ahead.  

As mentioned briefly in my letter to the community on Monday, I have just returned from an educational conference in Orlando, Florida. I certainly appreciated the opportunity to present at the Conference our Professional Learning Program and our Teaching for Thinking Agenda implemented over the past four years at St Catherine’s. The Conference also provided an opportunity to attend a number of Keynote Presentations and Breakout Sessions to gain a deeper understanding of the issues facing schools abroad in the post-COVID world. 

A key theme from the Conference was ensuring a sense of belonging in schools for students, and additionally for staff and families. I noted it is a small but targeted change in language, from ‘wellbeing’ to ‘well-belonging.’ A worrying trend noted for young people today was the notion of opting out of challenging situations – for some this even includes school. Described as an ‘opt-out’ culture that seems to have emerged at this time, it is almost as if people have an idea that their contribution is not necessary or not needed, or everything is optional. 

Creating a culture of belonging aims to address the emerging opt-out culture with an emphasis on supporting all students to increase their engagement in school life. This includes accessing the curriculum, respecting diversity and being present in the classroom. Some of the key questions asked of us to consider were: 

• Are students received by others at school with authentic warmth and friendliness? 
• Are students recognised as unique individuals, acknowledged for their strengths, and appreciated for who they are? 
• Are they receiving the assistance they need to participate fully and meaningfully? 
• Are the perspectives of students sought out, listened to, and respected by others? 

Attendees at the Conference were encouraged to really think about their school cultures in a powerful way and to focus their energies on building strong communities that are considered pivotal to creating a sense of belonging.  

Australian researcher and clinical psychologist, Andrew Fuller supports the notion of people needing to feel connected to schools, commenting that the ‘opt-out’ culture “means if something feels a bit uncomfortable or a bit difficult to deal with, it becomes easier to not do it at all. The risk of narrowing a sphere of things to do and to challenge young people, is likely to result in an increase in anxiety, and it raises concerns about their willingness to face challenges and fully engage in school life.” 

I anticipate the notion of “well-belonging” rather than mere “well-being” will gain traction, with schools prioritising the creation of cultures of belonging, like St Catherine’s has been cultivating for generations.

By ensuring authentic warmth, acknowledging individual strengths, and respecting diverse perspectives, we can empower our students to embrace their unique identities and fully participate in the learning process. Building strong communities within school will be pivotal in nurturing a sense of belonging, fostering resilience, and reducing anxiety. 

As we embark on Semester 2, I urge our families to play an active role in supporting their daughters’ sense of belonging to our School community. Let us collectively inspire and motivate them to value their education, opt-in to every opportunity for growth, and embrace challenges with courage and determination. Together, we can create an environment where every student feels respected, valued, and excited about their learning journey.