Holidays … What are they? From day one of Term 2, our Havenview Primary School team have been hard at work – making the most of every minute we are at school, while Mr Murfet has been enjoying his well-deserved 8 days of Long Service Leave. With ‘one man down,’ every member of the school team has stepped up, so we have been able to continue motoring in a most productive way. Thank you, staff, students, and community members for everything – please know that I am myself incredibly grateful to all of you, for your understanding and kindness in regard to the many ‘oopsies’ I have made while filling the Size 12 shoes of Mr Murfet.

Continuing with the accolades – it was Fire Evacuation Drill yesterday and our entire school was applauded by the members of the Burnie Fire Brigade who attended. It was a calm, efficient and streamlined evacuation that had Mrs Fenton being quite the heroine, finding a student, on her final ‘sweep’ of the buildings, who hadn’t quite ‘got the memo’ to evacuate; that sealed the deal for us, and we passed with flying colours.

Our focus value for Term 2 is Courage – which resonates for me, with the wise words of Dr Brene Brown who debunks the myth that ‘… really brave people don’t feel scared or awkward. But rather - being brave is feeling scared or awkward, accepting those feelings, and moving forward anyway.’ Netflix comes up with some gems, and Brene’s ‘The Call to Courage’ is a diamond that they are currently airing. Here is my take-away from watching it – albeit between snores. Everyone loves to be a critic, and critics can tear you down and have you doubting yourself – however, Brene reminds us that when you make yourself vulnerable, get out there and have a go, feedback from those that are not doing the same – is not worth wasting your time on. So, I encourage you all to be vulnerable and courageous at the same time – as I am being right now and sharing with you my goal for the Term that shows my vulnerability and courage – I will sing in a choir in the Eisteddfod. What is your goal? Then share your goal with your children and encourage them to also be vulnerable and show courage at the self-same time and create a goal for themselves. It might be to have a go writing a word (without anyone’s help) that they really want to use, or to share their thinking in class even though they are worried someone might think they are silly or asking for help when they are unsure about something. The base for the word <courage> is <cor> and it is Latin for <heart>. So, let’s lead with our hearts.

Talking about heart - our Get Reading volunteers are all about heart and have already been busy sharing their love of reading with our youngest students – with a greater aim of consolidating their understanding of the concepts of print. So, an enormous thanks already to Skye Fulford, Missie Hardstaff and Bec Evans for giving of their time from 2pm onwards to read with our Kinder students. If you too want to know all about the concepts of print (ask the ladies, it sounds fancy – but it really is quite simple) and have a little free time from 2pm onwards, Monday to Wednesday, and are keen to read with our Kinder students, please leave your name at the office and you can join us next Wednesday at 2pm in the Library for your ‘training.’

And finally, let’s continue thanking people – Mrs Costello, Jagger and Maddie (who laid the wreath) and all the other students who represented us at the Anzac Parade – you made us proud. And as it is Wednesday as I write this, and the weather is cold – I am reminded to thank the super Souper Wednesday team! We certainly feed mind, soul and tummies here at Havenview!