Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
Week 8 was an exciting week at SJPC as we begin our annual Kawalazi fundraiser for the year. The fundraiser will run for the remainder of the term. This is our 25th year in showing our support of Kawalazi High and Primary School in Malawi in southeastern Africa. It began with our College Assembly where the students were addressed by the very people who began the Kawalazi Project way back in 2001. Ashleigh Holmes (2001 College Captain), Ainslie Goodman and Erin McDonald (Class of 2001) spoke about the foundations of this project. Students also heard via video from Thomas Kwata Phiri (Principal of Kawalazi Primary in 2001) and Linessie Kwata (the first girl to attend university due to the success of the Kawalazi Project).
Other highlights of the fortnight will include a Homeroom Challenge to see which Homerooms can raise $50 which will educate a student for a year, the red, green and black mufti day & sausage sizzle (Tuesday - Week 9) along with the selling of authentic Kawalazi jewellery that the students are free to wear for the remainder of the term. There will also be a pictorial photographic history of the Kawalazi Project in the subway for all to see.
If families wish to individually sponsor a student from Kawalazi please contact the College Office. We need all the support we can get. Please give as much as you can so we can help as many students as possible.
The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness (depending on the context). In some ways, gratitude encompasses all of these meanings. Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. In the process, people usually recognise that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside themselves. As a result, being grateful also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals — whether to other people, nature, or God.
(Giving thanks can make you happier)
In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.
Practicing an “attitude of gratitude” makes you feel better about the daily stresses and frustrations we all encounter and it improves your health:
- Better sleep. Before you go to sleep, spend a few minutes counting your blessings, and you could sleep more soundly and longer.
- Better physical health. Lower blood pressure, improved immune function and less fatigue are just some of the physical benefits you could reap.
- Better mental health. Gratitude promotes a sense of well-being and can help ease depression. It can also improve resiliency.
- Improved self-esteem. Cultivating feelings of gratitude and focusing on all the good things in your life create positive feelings about yourself and your abilities.
- Better relationships. Saying “thank you” and showing appreciation can strengthen your relationships with your significant other, family and friends. And it can help you make new friends and build new healthy relationships.
- Improved self-care. Being aware of the good things in your life can promote behaviours like exercising regularly, eating a well-balanced diet, creating opportunities for “me time” and taking care of your own health. (Behavioral Health Care - Benefits of gratitude)
There is no better time than during our Kawalazi giving to reflect on how fortunate we are, and how we can make such a difference to someone else by giving something so little. It is important to take time to remind ourselves and the young people in our care, how very blessed we are and in turn practicing gratitude can certainly make a positive impact on our lives.
Until next time:
