An open letter to my students

Dear Students

I write this letter to you whilst sitting in an empty and somewhat lifeless classroom. Soon, that will all change. Tuesday 2nd February 2016 marks the first day of your final year of primary school. Are you prepared?

Are you prepared to give it everything you’ve got? And I mean absolutely everything. I will greet you on your first with this expectation. This expectation will not fade. It will permeate through our room everyday. You have that promise from me. My attitude is, you’re either all in, or all out. Seize the day. Everyday in Room 8 is an opportunity to learn new things about yourself and the world.

Are you prepared to be treated with respect and as an equal? You have that promise from me. In Room 8 there are no bigots or bullies.  From the moment you step through that door, you become part of the Room 8 Whanau. The Room 8 Whanau is respectful of one another. We treat others the way we want to be treated ourselves. We value our peers for the ‘life stories’ and experiences they bring to our learning environment. We are respectful and tolerant towards their differences - we embrace these and learn from them. Above all, we like each other, we enjoy each other’s company and in doing so, make learning really fun! There will be times that this will be put to the test - that’s what life is all about - not being intolerant or indifferent, but interested. Interested in learning how to accept and learn from each other’s differences. Together, we will grow from these experiences.

Are you prepared to help others when they need it? You have that promise from me. I will stand-up and fight for you. As your teacher, I am loyal to your needs. The Room 8 Whanau has each other’s backs. That means if we see someone in difficulty, we go to their aid - no matter who they are. If you are having difficulty, take comfort in the fact that someone has your back.

Are you prepared to make mistakes, accept them and learn from them? You have that promise from me. I like to challenge myself as a teacher - if I don’t challenge myself and try new things, I’m not doing this job justice. The fact that I like to take risks means that I will make mistakes. Many mistakes. I will learn from them and so will you.

Are you prepared to accept that your brain has a capacity to grow? You are not born ‘smart’ - you have to work hard for it. In Room 8, we believe in a Growth Mindset. We understand that our brains are muscles that need training. You’ve gotta fight and fight hard to learn and cement new understanding. Don’t worry, I’ll be in your corner. I’m in this fight with you.

Are you prepared to run like your lives depend on it? Because your lives do depend on it! We will be running 2.6km 4 days a week and measuring your cardiovascular fitness with a Beep Test twice a term. Like last year, I will be doing this with you. You have that promise from me. What’s my motivation? My children. I want to be able to keep up with them and be a healthy and happy Dad and I want to thank you in advance for running with me and helping me reach my fitness goals. What’s your motivation?

Are you prepared to communicate - openly - with your teacher and peers to help you grow? You have that promise from me. I will communicate with you when I’m having trouble with something. I will communicate with you when I’m frustrated. I will communicate with you when I need help. In Room 8, we believe that communication is the key to everything. Being honest, open and addressing difficulties, not ignoring them, opens exciting doors.

Are you prepared to be a role-model? You have that promise from me. By moving into Room 8, you need to accept that all other students are looking at you and learning from your actions. You need to make sure that your actions are positive. You are positioned to have a huge influence on your younger peers. I’ll let you in on a secret, I’ve worked in a lot of schools across New Zealand. In my opinion, school behaviour has a ‘top down’ effect. The behaviour across a school is influenced by the oldest students. You are the oldest students. Honour this privileged role and maintain Paroa’s reputation as a positive, safe and exciting school.

Well I can’t wait. I love this job. There are no two days that are the same. You children are dynamic, exciting and mind-blowingly inspirational. I will try and match these characteristics as your teacher. You have that promise from me.

Game on.

Mr S-W.