‘Cultivating resilience isn’t about giving children a ‘good life’ but teaching them to enjoy the life they have. I liken it to the ultimate gift described in the old Chinese Proverb:

‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime’.

Michelle Mitchell, Author of Everyday Resilience.

I recently read the book Everyday Resilience written by Michelle Mitchell, which focusses on the seven traits of resilience, and how as parents, we can utilise powerful strategies that turn daily challenges into moments that build resilience and confidence in our boys.

As an educator and as a proud father of three boys, I am aware of the challenges that our boys face with friendships, academic pressure and the self-doubt of growing up. As parents, we want our children to grow up to be happy, healthy, strong, caring and resilient.

As Principal of Moreton Bay Boys’ College, I am proud to be associated with a College that provides an environment where the boys feel safe, happy and connected which allows them to flourish, and more importantly, an environment where they feel a sense of purpose and belonging. The culture at MBBC is built on relationships and values, which help our boys to navigate the unpredictable challenges of life, develop strategies to build resilience and take risks.

Michelle Mitchell has explored seven traits of resilience which can have a profound impact on how your son handles life challenges. These are Courage, Gratitude, Empathy, Self-Awareness, Responsibility, Self-Care and Contribution.

Tips for building resilience:

Courage

Aim to create your son’s childhood full of adventure. Provide an opportunity for your son to move outside his comfort zone, take risks, make connections and experience new things. Encourage him to raise his hand to ask questions and encourage him to have another go when things do not work out the first time.

Gratitude

Inject gratitude into our daily schedule and it will become contagious. Years of research have constantly linked a person’s overall happiness to their ability to be grateful. Accept your son, just for who he is without trying to improve him or fix him.

Empathy

One of Values at MBBC is Care, and research refers to the positive impact kindness has on people’s happiness and resilience. Practice and model empathy by asking your son questions rather than making assumptions. Quietly praise acts of kindness, as they have their own reward. Clearly define what a good friend is and isn’t and encourage your son how best to support his friends who may be struggling. 

Self-Awareness

Help your son identify their core team (friends, siblings, parents, teachers). The role of trusted parents and support people is critical to help shape his perceptions of his strengths and weaknesses. Be mindful about the words you use to describe your son especially when they disappoint you – he will remember those words.

Responsibility

Allow your son to learn from real life experiences and take responsibility for his own actions. Reinforce that life is about choices and don’t do things for them that they can do for themselves. This includes packing lunches, paying for things, cleaning, washing and doing assignments. Don’t give your child technology every time they are bored. Allow them to be creative as this will put them in good stead for the future.

Self-Care

‘Self-care enables us to be strong – mentally, physically and spiritually, so that we can give to others’.

Help your son to find his passion and to do something active every day. Encourage your son to choose 10 self-care strategies such as read a book, make something, have a conversation with someone they love, paint, draw or exercise. Mr Eames has a strong passion for providing clubs and activities that promote self-care and our Five to Thrive Wellbeing Framework is very much geared towards promoting self-care. Realise that technology detoxes are essential and I encourage anyone struggling with self-care to unplug from technology for the day or weekend.

Contribution

There is no doubt that offering young people the opportunity to be responsible, caring, participating members of society, enriches the lives of individuals and ultimately creates a more just and caring world. Furthermore, research has shown (Konrath et al 2012) that service can significantly enhance a person’s well-being and can have lasting effects of up to four years later.

Remember that our boys watch how we contribute and give back to society. If you want volunteering or service to be part of your son’s life, start early. Contribution allows us to experience a sense of purpose and belonging to the broader community. 

As I reflect on my own parenting of three teenage boys, I have realised that it is an incredible personal journey and that resilience helps our boys to manage stress, feel happier, make better choices, enjoy positive relationships and embrace opportunities that will allow them to navigate life’s challenges.

I am extremely grateful, as I am sure every parent at MBBC is, for the joy our boys bring to our lives. Thank you to all the parents at MBBC. You are doing an amazing job raising our wonderful boys.

Please refer to the TASS Calendar for up to date information regarding school activities.

Next week, Primary boys have the option of competing in the Matific Olympiad on June 3 and 4. All boys are already registered and may participate at school AND at home! Prizes are awarded for three categories: Individual, Year level and School. 

When

Between 31 May - 2 June 2021, a practice period will take place to allow students, classes and schools time to prepare for the Matific Olympiad. Th official competition will be held on June 3 and 4.

How

Practice:

Students are encouraged to log in to their student account where they can navigate to the Competition Island. During the practice period, eight activities will be available in the Competition Island for students to practice. Please note that no prizes are awarded during the practice period.

Competition:

When the competition begins (June 3 and 4), all participants are encouraged to log in to Matific and begin completing activities available in the Competition island to earn "stars". Every time a participant completes an activity the amount of stars they earn will be awarded to their individual total, their class's total AND their school total. The "stars" earned will be the deciding factor on who wins the awards. Each activity can earn students five stars and may be attempted a maximum of five times per activity. 

For more information see the brochure.

One of the aspects of Moreton Bay Boys’ College I have really valued is the thirst for learning demonstrated by students and staff alike. I have always been impressed by the willingness of our staff to be reflective of their practice, engage in professional discussions, and embrace opportunities. I should not have been surprised then by the number of staff who gave up their Sunday evening last weekend to attend a talk given by Hugh van Cuylenburg, co-founder of the Resilience Project, encouraged and organised by Mr Lewis.

While spending a few months volunteering in a school in the far north of India in 2008, van Cuylenburg pondered the happiness he encountered despite what we would consider to be very harsh conditions the residents of the village endured every day. His experience inspired him to embark on post graduate studies, which have helped him draw conclusions about the nature of happiness and how we can cultivate it in our lives.

His message is simple and clear. If we want to be happy, we should practise gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness. Like our Five to Thrive Wellbeing Framework, whose five actions are: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, and Give, these three principles are easily enacted in our daily lives. Moreover, they are based on research which conclusively demonstrates the connections between these actions and enhanced wellbeing.

The evening reaffirmed for those in attendance the importance of being deliberate in ‘choosing’ to be happy by living out these principles and van Cuylenburg reminded us how easy this is to do. It is alarming to consider the statistics that one in three girls suffer from an anxiety disorder as do one in five boys. I am not suggesting that all mental health problems can be solved by being grateful, empathetic and/or mindful, but the evidence exists to show that each one will help with general mood and outlook. Slides to support this can be found at https://theresilienceproject.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Hugh-Slides.pdf.

Gratitude can easily be practised by focusing on what you have rather than what you do not have. You could help your sons or daughters with a simple conversation starter. Ask them on the way home from school, at the dinner table or before bed, “What was the best thing that happened to you today?” This will help them to think about the things or people they are most grateful for. You could also ask them about things they are looking forward to. Mindfulness can be built by practising staying present in the moment, trying not to think about the future or the past. Van Cuylenberg suggested it could be something as simple as going for a walk and focussing on each sound you might here. Empathy is about consideration of others and the logical extension of that is to be kind to them. The benefits you can derive from being kind to others, and even witnessing acts of kindness are significant.

I would invite you to visit the Resilience project website and hope you find it helpful both personally and as your support your sons with their wellbeing.

Did you know that in just six days’ time, you will have forgotten about 75% of anything you learn today (see Image 1)? This scary fact was formulated and tested by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus way back in the 1880s, and re-tested and re-proven as recently as 2015! Unfortunately, it means that weekly music ensemble rehearsals are pretty ineffective… unless supported by students playing their music through at home during the week. 

The good news is that reviewing your pieces just three times during the week in between your rehearsals results in retention of more than 90% of newly learned music, because each time you play the music through you remember more and forget stuff more slowly (see Image 2). Imagine how quickly you could progress, and how much new repertoire your ensembles could learn, if every student in the group was building from a memory base of 90% every week instead of starting by having to relearn two thirds of what was done a week earlier? 

This is one of many reasons that students involved in the College’s production of The Wiz have such a busy schedule over the next few weeks. A professional musical is such a complex combination of overtures, acting, costumes, sets, underscoring, singing, dancing, accompaniment and scene changes, often overlapping and interacting, and performed mainly from memory. There is no time for uncertainty or forgetting subtle cues, and so the intensity of our final lead-up to the shows is intentionally designed to help the students really fine-tune and remember all the little details so they can lift their delivery to another level by the time they perform in front of an audience. 

If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, I strongly encourage you to do so – The Wiz has a funnily re-written script combined with high-energy dance and all-new funky music. It’s a great update to the much-loved Wizard of Oz movie and the cast and band are really sounding fantastic! Book now using the online TICKET BOOKING LINK.

Due to the very busy The Wiz schedule in Production Week, and its effect on availability of equipment and venues at MBC, there will be a number of rehearsals cancelled in Week 7. Could parents and students please note that the following rehearsals will NOT be on:

• Tuesday 1 June - Chamber Percussion
• Wednesday 2 June - Vocal Point, New Originals, Rockfuse, MBBC Senior Vocal Ensemble and Chorale
• Friday 4 June - Orchestra

Our next Co-Curricular Music Programme event (following swiftly after the Musical) is Week 8’s Contemporary Concert for our four rock bands – Rockfuse, The New Recruits, The New Originals and the Bayside Boys. Watch out for more information soon, but keep Friday 11 June aside as it’s going to be a great evening hosted in the MBBC Sport’s Hall.

We are currently looking for two students to take up lessons on the bassoon – a beautiful sounding member of the woodwind section. Playing this instrument would lead to membership in the Concert Band, Wind Ensemble or Symphony Orchestra and, as we currently only have two students playing bassoon, anyone taking up this instrument would have plenty of opportunity to move into these groups as soon as they were ready – no need to wait for more senior players to vacate spaces! 

We have two bassoons that we are able to loan for use throughout your time at the Colleges and are offering families six free lessons to get started and see if they enjoy playing before parents need to commit financially. 

Listen to this video of a bassoon quartet playing Lady Gaga to get an idea of the instrument’s sound. 

If you are interested in giving the Bassoon a go, please contact me at the Music Office (3907 5710 or langfordb@moretonbaycolleges.qld.edu.au).

Moreton Bay Boys’ College consistently advocates for diversity in boys’ co-curricular involvement to help them form bonds beyond the classroom and allow them to pursue new interests.

Many students also benefit from the cross-pollination of skills across activities – a key element to develop a good all-rounder. This is particularly true for Middle School boys during their foundational years. The literature suggests boys are also less likely to burn out and experience repetitive use injuries due to developing various skills and movement patterns.

This term’s co-curricular sports data shows that Middle School boys are immersing themselves in the opportunities presented, although the percentage of involvement decreases as students get older. 

There are a few explanations for the decrease in participation as boys get older. One is that as their academic load increases and as they get busier, they do not want to commit as much time to sporting pursuits.

Another explanation, which is supported by literature, is that boys start to specialise in sports as they discover their interests. Anecdotally, older boys play fewer sports, but they are playing more frequently through a combination of school and club competitions year-round.

CSSAQ seasons are short and ideal for keeping boys fresh and motivated. Playing sport with their classmates is an excellent way to help students feel a sense of belonging and engagement. I encourage all boys, particularly older boys, to challenge themselves to try something new whenever the opportunity presents itself.

The Term 2 calendar is full of activities, and preparations for Term 3 activities are underway with preseason training commencing soon. If you are interested in an upcoming activity, please ensure you have downloaded the College App to receive news and notifications for upcoming season information.

A reminder to stay up to date via the College App > Sport and MBBC Sport Instagram.

Football | Britton Shield 

Date: Friday 4 June 2021

Venue: Ipswich Junior Grammar School

Age Divisions 

• U8 (2 teams)
• U10 (2 teams)
• U12 (2 teams)

Athletics 

Training details will be communicated via the College App in Week 6.  

‘Save the Date’

Interhouse Athletics Championships

Years 4-12

• Thursday 5 August 2021

CSSAQ Track and Field Championships

• 12&U | Tuesday 17 August | 9:00am-2:30pm
• 13&O | Tuesday 17 August | 3:00pm-8:00pm

Sheldon Track and Field Invitationals

• Friday 6 August (4:30pm start) – Year 7-12 (Sprints & Throws)
• Friday 13 August (4:30pm start)  – Year 3-6 (All events)
• Friday 20 August (4:30pm start)  – Year 7-12 (Distance Track & Jumps) 

Sheldon Track and Field Carnival Day

Friday 3 September (student free day) in a team format. Three divisions.

• 9-11 Years Boys & Girls (Boys & Girls compete separately but points are combined)
• 12-15 Years Boys & Girls (Boys & Girls compete separately but points are combined)
• 16-18 Years Boys & Girls (Boys & Girls compete separately but points are combined)

Dear Parents and Caregivers 

You are cordially invited to the combined Colleges’ musical The Wiz.

After what has been a challenging year for the Arts sector across all domains, we encourage you all to come and support our wonderfully talented Arts cohort who are excited to be performing to a live audience once again in our very own MBC Music Centre. 

Our students and staff have been working tirelessly at rehearsals and this production is set to have you bouncing along to the many fantastic song and dance numbers. The performances are in Week 7 of Term 2 from Thursday the 3^rd of June through to Saturday the 5^th of June. The Friday night performance will see the promotion of a dress up evening in which audience members are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite Wiz or Wizard of Oz character. 

The Performing Arts Support Group, known as the PASG, will be providing deliciously themed “Wiz” snacks in a COVID safe manner for purchase at each of the shows, along with a bar on the Friday and Saturday evening performances. 

Bring the family along for a fun-filled afternoon or evening that will see you follow Dorothy on her journey through Oz set to music in a dazzling, lively mixture of rock, gospel and soul! 

Get in quick to secure your tickets by clicking on the following link. We look forward to seeing you all there. 

https://www.trybooking.com/BQWWJ