鈥淪o what does a Principal actually do?鈥�, I was asked in December, by a friend who does not work in a school. I replied that a Principal does a huge variety of things and I even tentatively named a few of those tasks, but my response was evidently deemed unsatisfactory and I ended up having to assure them that I would let them know when I鈥檇 started my new job.听 It鈥檚 now February 3 and the students and teachers have been back for nearly a week; I am confident that I can now answer the question.

I suppose if I鈥檓 being honest, I can only state what a Principal does in the first week of the year. And I can only refer to this particular Principal. At 国标麻豆视频APP, in 2022. In fact, on reflection, I can鈥檛 really claim to know the full answer to the question at all, but I do want to share observations of my first week of Term 1 at Carmel.

My overarching observation is that it has been a positive start for so many reasons. From the genuinely warm welcome for all the High School students at the front gate on the first morning to the palpable excitement I witnessed in the Primary School, the atmosphere has been purposeful, friendly and welcoming. I hope that our new and returning students have felt the same.

听But what have I done? Happily there wasn鈥檛 a lot of sitting around; I was keen to get out and about and start to work out how Carmel operates. I have seen brief periods of story reading, frisbee skill development, pencil case decoration, language practice and writing. I have read lots of government documents about COVID and worked hard to translate them into English for you. I have facilitated a room audit to ascertain how many windows can be opened as part of checking our ventilation practices (more information to follow on this). I have spoken at the first High School assembly and enjoyed the first prayers of the year. I have heard about brain dissections, assessment schedules and Bunsen burners.

I have chatted to Primary children about their favourite animal, colour, food and number. I have tried to help new Year 7 students find their next classroom despite my having no sense of direction whatsoever and only just being able to find my own way around the campus. I have admired a Year 12 study schedule and been impressed with the independent study skills some of our students have developed. I have enjoyed spending time outside (no mask required!) and chatted to numerous students about their 鈥榖est lesson so far鈥� (At this stage, English and Science featured heavily in my small and unscientifically selected sample of Year 7 students). I have presented at my first board meeting, run my first Carmel Leadership Team meeting and started to plan for the future.

听I spoke to the High School students in their first assembly and urged them to consider three themes for the start of 2022 - kindness, curiosity and common sense.听 听I explained the importance of kindness and the need to support the new members of our Carmel community in practical ways 鈥� noticing whether everybody has someone to eat lunch with, someone to sit with in class, someone to chat with at recess. For me, the core business of school is learning, and for this curiosity is essential. I talked about asking well thought-out questions of the right person at the right time and hearing the answer. I finished by urging students to apply common sense in all situations. Before they do something, it would be wise to consider whether it is a sensible course of action. I sometimes ask myself whether I would do it if my beloved grandmother were watching 鈥� would she approve? With the three themes of kindness, curiosity and common sense in mind, our students won鈥檛 go far wrong. I hope they have thought about these themes; perhaps you could back this up with discussion at the family dinner table this week.

Early personal failures this week have generally been mask-based. They include the dilemma of having filled the car with petrol on the way home from school and then not being able to find a wretched mask in the car to enable me to go in and pay for said fuel. Worse was the day when I was thinking deeply about an earlier conversation with a student, forgot that I was wearing a mask and absent-mindedly attempted to drink through it.

Memorable things from the first week: Most heart-warming thing: watching older students helping the new ones find their classrooms Most surprising thing: how wonderfully our small classes allow teachers to really get to know the students and personalise learning experiences for them Most enjoyable thing: so many students spontaneously saying hello as they walk past Most stunning thing: the contents of the children鈥檚 lunchboxes in the ELC Most lovely thing: walking to my office from the car park really early in the morning and feeling at home Most impressive thing: the focus of the teachers and students; it really feels as though everybody is working together to achieve big things

听In fact, there has only been one awful thing this week and that was the singing in assembly.听 I wondered what was wrong and why the singing was so appalling, but upon investigation I was reliably informed that this was 鈥渜uite normal鈥�. This is something that will have to change.听 I haven鈥檛 worked out a strategy yet, but it needs to happen. I just couldn鈥檛 live with myself if I didn鈥檛 make a difference to the sound we make as a High School when singing the Australian National Anthem and Hatikvah. Two marvellous pieces of music to which justice must be done. For me, the way we sing is one way in which we express pride in our school and our country; for me, pride is important. I was embarrassed on behalf of the generous student pianist who accompanied us and hope he forgave us for the lack of support for his playing. Happily, as one of the Year 12 students commented to me, if the worst thing I experience in the first week is a lack of enthusiastic singing, things must be going pretty well.

So what does a Principal actually do? Well I can confidently say that they do such a huge variety of things that they will never get bored. And long may that continue. I鈥檓 looking forward to sharing the things I learn with you during the year and encourage you to sign up for a 鈥楥offee with the Principal鈥� on this link so I can listen and hear your hopes for the future of 国标麻豆视频APP.