Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends of St Mary’s School,

Over the past week I have been involved in a number of rolls in a range of sporting codes.  From spectator to selector, from coach to supporter, and reflecting back on these experiences I would like to share some observations with you.

Firstly children succeed in sport when they enjoy the sport and are playing it because it is something that they want to do.  Often you will see children who have been pushed by their parents drop out at high school because they had become so afraid of failing that sport was not enjoyable.

The rule of ten thousand definitely is still a major factor, that is that to achieve at a high level you need to put in a minimum of ten thousand hours at your selected sport, but if you want children to put in anything like this level of effort then two factors are vital: they must have excellent support and they must enjoy what they are doing—feel part of a team or group.

My daughter’s hockey team has had a very successful season and the reason for this lies in their coaches ability to take a diverse group of girls ranging in age from 13-18 and including a national representative and some who only play for the school, and welding them into a team.

She was able to achieve this by her own skills but also by the fact that the older members in her team were real leaders.  Despite the fact; in one case they could have been playing for New Zealand one day and the next playing against South Otago, there was no self aggrandisement or self promotion but rather they emphasized the no ‘I’ in team saying.

The rest of the team responded to this leadership.  There was no talking down but only encouragement, no rebukes yelled but only encouragement, no snide remarks but rather support for a common goal.

I would suggest that sport here becomes a metaphor for life, if we want our team to succeed we need to focus on the collective not on our own aspirations.

Have a great week

Mike Brosnahan

 

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends of St Mary’s School,

Last week I had the absolute privilege of going ‘on camp’ with our senior pupils.  The programme that Mrs Baines designed was excellent, it was a perfect balance between: outdoor education, social

sciences, science and life skills.

 

The highlight for  many would have been the skiing and as one pupil expressed to me. “When I first

arrived I was scared to go on the learners slope and now I can ski anywhere”! encapsulates the

development in confidence and motivation that the group went through during the week.

My personal highlight was the trip to the Arrowtown museum, when the pupils went to 1880’s school.

“Miss Grey” scared me and I was only watching, but the programme highlighted now education has changed and how lucky we are to have now the New Zealand National Curriculum.

 

I would like to thank all of the parents who helped out on camp, with out you all we would never have achieved all that we did and once again acknowledge the huge effort put in by Mrs Baines.  The

success of the camp was down to the hard work that she put in with regards planning and designing the camp over the preceding months.

Our Year Seven and Eight camp has become something of an institution and when I see the positive

effects that it has for our pupils then I am more than ever determined to ensure that it continues.

 

Have a great week

Mike Brosnahan

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends of St Mary’s School,

Here we are in Week Six and as usual we have a busy week planned.  The senior children are away at camp in Queenstown.

School camps are a tradition in New Zealand and all of us would fondly remember them from when we were children.  I went to a small country school so our school camps tended to be in Dunedin which was a real eye opener to kids from the ‘Styx’.  But most children would have learned to kayak and climb rocks, abseil and generally challenge themselves in a range of stimulating outdoor experiences.

School camps and the opportunities that they present to our pupils cannot be over estimated.  We don’t know what we are capable of until we try.

On Sunday night I watched a documentary about Palmerston North Boys High and the ethos that they had, one of tradition and challenging your self to be better.  I think that we can learn a lot from that.I am always keen for St Mary’s pupils to present a good first impression, by ensuring that their grooming is neat, dress appropriately, and that they use good manners.

To make a good first impression puts you on the front foot when dealing with a potential employer, or someone who can offer you a place in a course or school or select you in a team.  First impressions really do count.

 I will be at the Senior school camp in Queenstown this week—Mrs Kenneally and Mrs Stevens will be Acting Principal.

 Have a great week

Mike Brosnahan

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends of St Mary’s School,

Week Four already and what an exciting week this looks like being.

The Kapahaka group is presenting a performance at the Hui Ako festival at Fairfield school on Wednesday, various classes have visitors to them during the week and Room 3 and Room 5 have Mass on Friday.

 I do notice a lot of tired eyes around at the moment as most people have spent a little more time watching the Olympic Games then we should.  I am always very happy to see new Zealand doing well but I was especially pleased to see Mahe Drysdale win his Gold medal.  He was so close four years ago and his victory just underlines his amazing dedication, skill and tenacity.

I think another point to remember is that more and more of the athletes taking part are aged in their late 20’s or early 30’s because with more funding and support athletes are staying active for much longer. We need to relay this information to our pupils that life isn’t a sprint race but rather a marathon and that they need to be prepared like Mahe to learn from defeats.

 

I will be away at the Catholic School Convention from Wednesday to Friday, Mrs Kenneally will be Acting Principal so have a great week!

 Have a great week.

Mike Brosnahan

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends of St Mary’s School,

Week Three and what a busy time it is for all of us who are involved in any way in sport.

It’s that time which happens every four years when we all know what it is to ‘win by an ipon’, ‘catch a crab’, or ‘lose by T.K.O.  Yes, the Olympics are on, and you can only marvel at the amazing ability at the athletes that we watch and the amazing feats of skill, strength and endurance that they display. 

 What we must not lose sight of though is that these performances were not just made by someone wandering up and saying ‘can I have a row’ but rather by immensely talented athletes who have dedicated years to their sport.  Often making huge personal sacrifice along the way. 

 The one sport in the Olympics that I can comment on with any knowledge is rowing, I know what is required to achieve at national level and the jump to international level is immense.  To have a crew like Bond and Murray in such a technical boat is a huge boost for New Zealand rowing and our chances at the Olympics.  Every other crew is determined to win, there is no such thing as a ‘lay down—misere’.  Upsets happen, oars break and sport by it’s very nature is fickle.  We expect great things of our athletes, they expect more of themselves.

 But we must remember to temper our expectations especially of our own children.  We can encourage, support, nurture and even dream but if we want our children to play a sport to a high level we must ensure that they enjoy it.  As the American golfer Ray Floyd said “if you love what your doing you never work a day in your life”.

 So when we watch our children at their sport we need to remember that they are learning: skills, attitudes, values and setting goals.  Our job as parents is to offer support and hopefully they will continue to enjoy their sport and one day they may achieve something great.

 Have a great week.

Mike Brosnahan

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends of St Mary’s School,

 

Well it is official, the move is happening and it will be great!

The new school, which is what it will be—simply using the framing of the old but reconfigured into a new and contemporary way will be startling.

 Bill Hayden and Stuart Young presented a bright and innovative design to the school community at a parent meeting on Thursday night.

 The design incorporates all that is good in educational architecture for the twenty first century.

The moving of a school will obviously bring challenges but we as school leaders are committed to ensuring that the changes are as minor as possible.

 To ensure that you as our school community are as well informed as possible we will be putting regular updates either in our school or board newsletter.

Much of the information from our meeting held last Thursday night has been put up in the foyer and

further drawings etc. will also be displayed there.

 

 

Have a great week.

Mike Brosnahan

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends of St Mary’s School,

 Welcome back to everyone for Term Three.

Term Three promises to be a very busy term as we have a number of sporting events and cultural events timetabled to take place this term, culminating with our annual school musical in Week Eleven.

 As many of you will have heard, the shift of the school to the Holy Cross site is timetabled to take place so that we can be on site for the beginning of 2013.

The attitude of the BOT is that they will only put confirmed facts to you: No dreams, no aspirations and certainly no gossip.

If you hear information that doesn’t come from the school/BOT or Catholic Property Services please treat it as someone's opinion.

 So that the parent community is kept up to date with where we are at the moment—the BOT and the Catholic Diocese will be holding an information evening in the school foyer 7pm on Thursday evening.

The purpose of this evening is to keep all of you folk informed of where we are now—where we are going to and how we plan to get there.  So please come along.

 I will be in Oamaru today for our annual Year Seven and Eight interchange with St Joseph’s School.  This is always a great event as it ensures that our Year Seven and Eight group get another chance to meet with and compete against another group of their peers.

 

Have a great week.

Mike Brosnahan