Building Courage and Resilience in Our Children
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, a leading adolescent psychologist, reminds us that “resilience is key to addressing mental health issues,” noting that children need opportunities to experience manageable adversity to grow. While it is natural for parents and caregivers to want to shield young people from difficulty, overprotection can unintentionally limit the development of essential coping skills and emotional strength.
Resilience requires courage, one of our core values at the College, and it is a quality we strive to nurture in every student. Resilience plays a crucial role in a child’s mental health; it allows them to bounce back from failure, challenges, adversity, and stress. Importantly, resilience is not an innate trait but a skill that develops gradually as children grow. By supporting students to build resilience now, we empower them to face both present and future challenges with confidence. All young people can cope with setbacks, but they benefit greatly from the guidance and encouragement of caring, consistent adult role models.
For more information and further insight, please read the link below.
God bless,
Ms Alison Menzies
Deputy Head of Senior School – Health and Wellbeing
Cornerstone Companions Term 1 Update
It has been a busy and rewarding term for our canine companions at Oran Park Anglican College.
Saige has been spending time with Prep students helping with colours, choices, and turn-taking. This term also brought a special milestone as Saige experienced her first NAPLAN! Thanks to the wonderful Mrs Glendenning, a book was written about Saige completing NAPLAN for the first time, helping Year 3 students feel more confident as they approached the experience.
Kya has been everywhere this term — supporting students during the Senior School Swimming Carnival, assisting Year 3 and Year 7 students during NAPLAN, and building relationships with Stage 4 students as they continue their learning journey.
On Wednesdays, Maisy and Prue continue to work with students in Years 9–12, providing calm connection during what can be demanding and high-stakes academic years.
It has been wonderful to see these relationships grow across the College community.
God bless,
Cornerstone Companions Team