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Each week in the newsletter Jude writes a reflection piece.
Below is this week's reflection - scroll down for other topics.
Also see the Positive Education page - one of Jude's passions!
Jude's Reflections 2026
I often hear us asking children to ‘pay attention’ or ‘to focus’. Sometimes we may seek the same from friends, whānau and partners! As we are well aware, some of us have great difficulty for a variety of reasons, and for some, they just haven’t learned how to… yet.
We can easily blame technology – the instant streaming and pinging tablets, 10-second videos, games and more games – our children's brains are being constantly bombarded with distractions.
The other day, I plucked an old faithful off the bookshelf: Focus. In this slightly well-thumbed, dust-gathering copy, Daniel Goleman gives a reminder that attention isn’t something you either have or you don't. It is a mental muscle. If we don't use it, it gets weak. But if we exercise it, it gets stronger. Goleman explains that children need to practice three different types of focus to get where they hope to – it’s known as the "3 Focus Superpowers."
Inside Focus: This is your ability to check in with yourself. It’s noticing when your tummy is fluttering because you're nervous, or catching your eyes drifting towards what’s happening out the window instead of reading.
Other Focus: This is your ability to read others and try to understand their feelings and situation.
Outer Focus: This is understanding how you fit into the wider world. If you don't pack your school bag the night before, it makes the whole family have a less than wonderful start to the day.
(Speaking of which, I spotted this just after I wrote this piece: RNZ: Getting the kids out the door for school drives me bananas)
Part of our big push this year is this ‘developing eyes for others’. Whilst it can be age and stage-dependent, it is also something that can be taught. In a world that is moving fast, with so many choices being given to children for where they are at on their developmental trajectory, let’s keep trying to create these wonderful human beings who can focus that bit more – who can manage their emotions, make strong friendships, and solve complex problems. If we can treat attention as a skill that needs practice – just like basic facts – rather than a behaviour, I think we will go a long way to help our kids navigate our noisy world with more ease.
On that note, we are creating cohorts of twitchers. The bird observations Rose has been doing with some of the seniors as part of a maths inquiry is a fabulous opportunity to practice focus.
And if you missed the last NME workshop, pop down this date: Thursday 18 June, 3.15-4pm. Suz will be unpacking the NME model, all very much about the Inside Focus. I know the parents who could make the NME coffee chat last term all went away with plenty to think about – focus on even, maybe!
Ngā mihi nui
22 May 2026 - The joy of libraries
15 May 2026 - Allowing different strengths to shine
8 May 2026 - Guiding our children through a rapidly changing world
1 May 2026 - The importance of the Arts
24 April 2026 - Welcome back to Term 2
2 April 2026 - Reflecting on a high energy Term 1
27 March 2026 - Appreciating our unique environment
20 March 2026 - Professional learning centered around the new curriculum changes.
13 March 2026 - Words of welcome from our mihi whakatau
6 March 2026 - Swallows and Amazons
27 February 2026 - Goal setting and productive struggles
20 February 2026 - Year of the Fire Horse
13 February 2026 - Connected, capable and optimistic
5 February 2026 - Welcome to 2026
Jude's Reflections 2025
18 December 2025 - Looking to 2026
12 December 2025 - What a truly big year it has been!
5 December 2025 - Refreshed Strategic Plan for 2026–2028!
28 November 2025 - Vision for 2026
21 November 2025 - Parent Feedback
14 November 2025 - School Fair Success
7 November 2025 - Kindness
31 October 2025 - We have just received our ERO Report
24 October 2025 - “It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data."
17 October 2025 - A true community school
10 October 2025 - Architecture, connection, interconnectedness, togetherness
19 September 2025 - Reflection on Term 3
12 September 2025 - Reflection on the Arts Celebration
5 September 2025 - Arts Celebration is almost upon us...
29 August 2025 - The only thing constant is change
22 August 2025 - What kind of education will best serve our children?
15 August 2025 - Dr Todd Kashan and friendship
7 August 2025 - Shining a light on the Arts
1 August 2025 - Where grit and growth collide
25 July 2025 - Focusing on our common humanity
18 July 2025 - Insights from the Dunedin Study
27 June 2025 - The end of Term 2
19 June 2025 - Honing in on literacy
13 June 2025 - Learning is a team effort
30 May 2025 - Professional growth
23 May 2025 - Positive contribution
16 May 2025 - Dealing with complexity
9 May 2025 - Goal setting and reflection
2 May 2025 - The Learning Community
11 April 2025 - Change can be equated to growth
04 April 2025 - Reflecting on Term 1
28 March 2025 - Mathematics curriculum learning day
21 March 2025 - Feedback on out positive Education Workshops
14 March 2025 - State of flow
07 March 2025 - Positive Education workshops
28 February 2025 - Encouraging a community to flourish
21 February 2025 - Goals - students to Board
14 February 2025 - I've been thinking...
Jude's Reflections 2024
13 December 2024 - The Wrap!
6 December 2024 - Action-packed Weeks 8, 9 and 10
29 November 2024 - Balance
22 November 2024 - Encouraging a Community to Flourish
15 November 2024 - Lights, cameras and Fair Day action
8 November 2024 - Curriculum Changes
25 October 2024 - NZ Psychologist, Karen Boyes
18 October 2024 - "The Anxious Generation"
27 September 2024 - Term 4 Events
20 September 2024 - Planning for 2025
13 September 2024 - What Does Success Look Like for Our Worser Bay Children?
6 September 2024 - Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
30 August 2024 - Use of Digital Technology
23 August 2024 - Learning Celebrations
16 August 2024 - Resilience
9 August 2024 - Vibrant Term 3
2 August 2024 - Worser Bay School Alumni
26 July 2024 - Codes and Standards for the Teaching Profession
05 July 2024 - Screens and Sensory rest
27 June 2024 - Critical Thinking
21 June 2024 - Perfectionism
14 June 2024 - Kāhui Ako o Te Motu Kairangi
7 June 2024 - AWE
31 May 2024 - Writing by hand
24 May 2024 - Making Mistakes and Perseverance
17 May 2024 - Let's Talk Maths!
10 May 2024 - Brain Development
3 May 2024 - Pou Project Published!
12 April 2024 - Term 1 Reflections
22 March 2024 - Our Positive Education Programme
15 March 2024 - Learning 'outside'
8 March 2024 - Localised curriculum
1 March 2024 - Strategic Plan and Annual Goals
23 February 2024 - Relationship building opportunities
16 February 2024 - Goal Setting for 2024
9 February 2024 - Aspirations for 2024
Jude's Reflections 2023
8 December 2023 - What a Year!
1 December 2023 - 2023 Highlights and Challenges
24 November 2023 - Many hands make light work
17 November 2023 - The Fair
10 November 2023 - Our Supportive Community
3 November 2023 - Strategic Direction
20 October 2023 - Spring is in the air!
13 October 2023 - What's happening in Term 4?
22 September 2023 - Term 3 Reflection
15 September 2023 - The Arts Celebration
8 September 2023 - Visual Arts
1 September 2023 - Positive feedback
25 August 2023 - What sort of school would we say we are?
18 August 2023 - Change across the Education Sector
11 August 2023 - What does success look like for your child?
4 August 2023 - "Other People Matter"
28 July 2023 - Year 6 "Flourish" Programme
21 July 2023 - "What are you looking forward to?"
30 June 2023 - Term 2 Highlights
23 June 2023 - School in Action Morning
16 June 2023 - Localised curriculum
2 June 2023 - The Library
26 May 2023 - Student Voice
19 May 2023 - "Change the question and you will change the conversation"
12 May 2023 - Mental Health Education Guidelines
5 May 2023 - Kāhui Ako
31 March 2023 - Striving for Excellence
24 March 2023 - New Zealand Curriculum Refresh
17 March 2023 - Motivation and Engagement Wheel
10 March 2023 - Community, Rōpū, bunch, band, neighbourhood...
3 March 2023 - Goleman's Emotional Intelligence
24 February 2023 - Emotion Coaching for Parents
17 February 2023 - Language is powerful
10 February 2023 - National Education Learning Priorities (NELPS) for Aotearoa/NZ
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