Once Christmas is over and the New Year is upon us, we typically start formulating vague plans to do a better job of the year ahead. Steve Covey in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens provides important pointers for us to achieve excellence:

1. Be proactive – Don’t drift through life allowing it to wash around you. Think about what you want and what you must do to get it.
2. Begin with the end in mind – We don’t expect all teens to know what they will do when they leave school, but they should know what they are aiming for next week, next month, or next year.
3. Put first things first – If the priority is Maths, then prioritise Maths! Other pursuits will have to play second fiddle.
4. Think win-win – If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together. The success of others does not diminish your own achievements.
5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood – Teens are not the best listeners but learning to listen actively is essential for deep understanding.
6. Synergize – Collaborate on common goals to build respect for others, team spirit, and broaden perspectives.
7. Sharpen the saw – Invest in nurturing the mental, physical, spiritual, and social self to be prepared to face new challenges with courage and perseverance.

For these reasons, we initiated the Learning Conversations in Senior School to place the pupil at the centre of the experience and take ownership of their development. Only then can we truly expect each child to achieve their full potential.

Perhaps now, though, is the time to focus on “sharpening our saws” as we look forward to the festive season and some much-needed “TLC” for our bodies, brains, hearts, and souls.

Merry Christmas to you all.