From the Deputy Principals
Windsor Way – First Nations Artwork and Cultural Workshops
Many of those who are part of the Windsor SS community, students, parents, staff, all talk about what a special place and special community we are. We represent The Windsor Way through posters in our classroom and key messaging around the school, but this year we are seeking to go beyond that with the creation of a digital artwork that represents us, and our connections, at Windsor SS. One of our very talented Windsor SS parents, Amani Jhalisa Rodgers, is an Aboriginal Artist who has been working alongside our students this term in the beginning stages of this artwork development. At the start of this term, all students across Prep – Year 6 brainstormed words and feelings about Windsor SS to share with Amani. In Week 4, Amani then met with our upper school First Nations students, discussing these shared ideas from all students and sharing examples of symbols and techniques that can be used in Aboriginal artworks. Together, these students then collaborated on a shared canvas to experiment with painting symbols and express ideas that may be used in the school artwork. The following week, Amani met with our lower school students who also experimented with symbols, pictures and colours to share their ideas in collaborative canvas artworks. We are very much looking forward to seeing the completed artwork and how the students’ ideas have helped shape it. The digital artwork will be able to be used in a variety of ways and across different platforms across our school. We look forward to it becoming a key part of our Windsor SS imagery. For those interested in exploring Amani’s work, you can find her on Instagram @amani_jahlisa_art and as Amani Jahlisa Art across Facebook and TikTok.
Beyond her role as artist, Amani has also generously volunteered her time as a Windsor SS parent to create further opportunities for our First Nations students to connect together with a cultural focus. Fortnightly, Amani will meet with our junior and senior First Nations students, creating opportunity to yarn, create and connect. An invaluable opportunity for our students. If you would also like to be involved in these sessions, whether that be a one off or ongoing, please reach out to Roxie O’Donoghue at rodon60@eq.edu.au.
Term 2 Pastoral Care Focus- “Relationships” with a lens on ‘Getting Along and Organisation’
During Term 2, each Thursday afternoon, our teachers will be conducting Pastoral Care lessons with students that focus on ‘Relationships’. Particularly, we will be looking at the social-emotional keys to success of ‘Getting Along’ and ‘Organisation’.
Parents and carers can support this focus at home by taking opportunities to discuss and teach students about the importance of:
- Following rules
- Thinking first
- Accepting everyone
- Social Responsibility
- Time management
- Setting Goals
The Effects of ‘Over-Parenting’ on Children- Building Resilience
Life at times is filled with stress, risks and adversity, which has the potential to sidetrack kids from developing into happy, healthy adults. What appears to determine the difference between those who continue on successfully and those who do not, is resilience. Our parenting style, and an ‘authoritative’ style in particular, contributes significantly to supporting a healthy family relationship and to building resilience in our kids, empowering them to cope with stress, trauma and general life pressures. To learn more about hints and tips for raising resilient children, please click here.
