As we approach Week 4 of this term, some children may be starting to feel the weight of routines, expectations, friendships, and learning challenges.

Generally, this is not a sign something is ‘going wrong’. While these moments can feel uncomfortable, they are often a natural and healthy part of growth.

Research in child development reminds us that short-lived, manageable stress, when supported by caring adults helps children build resilience, confidence, and perseverance. School is a unique environment where this kind of growth can happen safely and purposefully. It provides daily opportunities for children to develop resilience: the ability to adapt, recover, and keep going when something feels hard.

It can be reassuring to know that not all stress is harmful. In school, this kind of healthy, manageable discomfort can look like:

Feeling nervous about a task or presentation
Struggling with a new learning concept
Navigating a friendship misunderstanding
Feeling disappointed about team selection or result
Needing to try again after making a mistake
Resilience is not about children ’toughening up’ or coping alone. It develops best when children face manageable challenges while knowing there are adults who will guide, coach, and care for them.

At school, our Educators intentionally build resilience by:

Providing clear routines and expectations (predictability supports confidence)
Coaching children through conflict rather than simply ‘fixing it'
Normalising mistakes as part of learning
Teaching children language for feelings and strategies for regulating
Celebrating effort, improvement, and perseverance not just outcomes
At the same time, our Educators are attentive to red flags that indicate a student may need extra support. We carefully monitor when distress is intense, ongoing, or interfering with a student’s wellbeing, and we work closely with families when concerns arise.

If your child has some wobbly mornings, tricky friendship moments or a week where learning feels harder please be assured school is a place where children can safely experience challenge, learn strategies, and discover capability. Our value of Perseverance reflects this understanding, that growth is formed over time. As scripture reminds us, “the testing of faith produces perseverance” James 1:13. In school, we see this lived out in small everyday moments where students are supported to keep going and honour their commitments.

Thank you for trusting us to walk alongside your children during these important seasons of growth. Together, we are helping them develop resilience and perseverance, qualities that will serve them well at school and beyond!

God Bless,

Allison Reeves

Director of Primary College