It is always a delight to walk visitors around the College and hear that buzz of activities and conversations coming from the classrooms and the playground.  I am always concerned when a school is too quiet as silence is often a sign that there is a gap or breakdown in communication, never a good thing.  Here at EAC, there is certainly vitality and bustle.

Walking around the College it is great to be able to chat to the students and more importantly to listen to what they have to say.  Rather than merely ask how they are, I find it beneficial to use some of the prompts listed below.  It is incredible how the right question can often elucidate the most engaging response and give a richer insight into where our young people are at.

Questions you can ask instead of "How Are you?"

"What is something interesting that happened today?"

"Have there been any changes in how you're feeling?"

"If you could do any part of today over again, what would it be?"

"What have you been reading/listening to/watching lately?"

"What made you smile today?"

"What would you like to be different tomorrow?"

"How can I make your day easier right now?"

"What has been hardest for this week?"

"When did you feel appreciated/understood/loved today?"

"What has improved for you today?"

"Is there anything you want to talk about from your day?"

"What are you most excited for this week?"

"What did you do to take care of yourself today?"

"What do you wish you did a little less of today?"

"What do you wish you did more of today?"

Another busy week at the College and a week when there seems to be a constant stream of visitors coming to engage with the students.  The Life Education Van was one such visitor, coming to work with the Primary kids with their mission to empower children and young people to make safer and healthier choices through education.

This mobile learning centre is working with Kindergarten to Year 6 students, teaching them health, safety and wellbeing skills to make better decisions throughout their lives.  One of their tools is 'Healthy Harold' the much loved giraffe who helps teach important lessons that resonate with students.

Importantly, we acknowledge that we can’t do it all on our own.  As it says in the old proverb, ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’  So, with Healthy Harold the students and teachers have worked on creating positive life-long health outcomes.

Dia dhaoibh 

Francis McGuigan
Deputy Principal