Starting Strong with Jenny Cole
In the past two years, our Academic Council has worked with Jenny Cole, a Leadership Development Consultant from Positively Beaming. These sessions were inspiring, thoughtful, and practical. They equipped our Heads of Learning Areas with the essential knowledge and skills needed to lead a high-performing team in a school setting.
Ailsa Harris, Head of Science, has reflected on the impact of these sessions on her role as a leader of the Science Department.
At the beginning of the term, we had a productive professional learning session with Jenny on starting strong. Her message was clear: how you commence your year with your learning area team determines the tone for the rest of your work. Starting strong is crucial for success.
Jenny’s sessions were full of actionable tips and practical advice. Here are some of the significant takeaways:
- Define Your Goals: Start by defining your goals for the year, quarter, or project. Make sure they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Having a clear vision of what you want to achieve will help you stay focused and motivated.
- Prioritise: Identify the most important tasks that will help you achieve your goals and prioritise them. Focus on the tasks that will have the most significant impact, and delegate or postpone the rest.
- Plan: Create a plan of action that outlines the steps you need to take to achieve your goals. Break your plan into small, manageable tasks and set deadlines for each one.
- Get Organised: Ensure you have the tools and resources you need to do your job effectively.
- Develop Habits: Form positive habits that support your goals.
- Stay Motivated: Keep your motivation high by celebrating your successes and learning from your failures. Recognise the progress you have made, and stay committed to your goals.
Starting strong is not just about the first few days of the year or a project. It is a continuous process that requires focus, determination, and discipline. By following these tips, you can set yourself up for success and achieve your goals.
During the second session, we were given the opportunity to practice coaching.
Coaching conversations are an incredibly powerful tool that can lead to significant personal and professional growth. Through open and honest dialogue, coaches can help individuals identify their strengths and weaknesses, set goals, and develop actionable plans to achieve those goals. By actively listening and asking thought-provoking questions, coaches can help individuals gain new insights and perspectives that they may not have considered before. Coaching conversations also provide safe and supportive spaces for individuals to explore their thoughts and feelings, build self-awareness, and work through any obstacles or challenges that may be holding them back.
Overall, coaching conversations are a highly effective tool for empowering individuals to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.
The Academic Council gained a lot from these sessions and is looking forward to implementing what they learned.
Combating The Attention Span Crisis In Our Students – Jennifer Oaten
It is no secret that attention spans have been steadily declining, especially among younger generations growing up immersed in digital technology. The average person’s attention span when using a digital device has plummeted from around two and a half minutes back in 2004 to just 47 seconds on average today – a dramatic 66% decrease over the past two decades.
Weekly Wrap Up: Term 2, Week 2, 2024
Week 2 has come to an end! This Weekly Wrap Up features highlights from Scuba Diving Club, the Sisterhood Series, and Boarding ANZAC Service.
Santa Maria Teams Shine in Term 1 Sports
Santa Maria had a huge number of girls in the IGSSA AFL and Volleyball competition with strong results for a number of teams.
- Featured
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
