“We see the confidence building in our kids.”

By Lacey, Mother of Rex and Axel

There are many ways where I see School programmes building confidence in my children: from intra-class challenges in PE (creating confidence with classmates), to the guest handball, soccer and other sports’ events (confidence in their school), to the talent show (confidence in themselves), the school community is creating amazing opportunities outside of academics for children to take risks and push themselves. These opportunities create confidence because – win or lose, succeed or fail – it is in the doing of the thing that they build their self-belief. These are the events they rush to tell me on the car-ride home. 

Last year, Axel did not have the confidence to play in the piano concert – this year, not only did he play the assigned holiday tunes, but chose to learn and perform Pink Panther for the audience – it was amazing. He even learned the theme song to Jurassic Park to play for the talent show try-outs. 

Rex’s confidence, on the other hand, has benefitted from the Learning Support team, the extra attention from his teachers and the repetition of teaching and testing methods. His confidence has grown from ritual, routine, and reward. We have noticed that as he understands the tests, he performs better. For him, weekly “challenges” like BIG MATHS and half-term MIND MAPS, Library and Reading Time have allowed him to settle his mind, not panic, and “get to it.”  The school has made him feel special, not stupid, and that’s so important! Before, when he saw something he didn’t understand, he would shut down or distract himself. Through his work in school and at home, he now searches for what he does know, and starts there. Once he gets started, he realises he can do it. We can do hard things! 

Both kids are highly motivated by DOJO points (Y3 and Y4 and the MVP awards for TT Rock Stars (Y4). Earning DOJO points helps me at home too!  The value of a certificate, recognition by their teachers and classmates and praise literally makes them glow with pride. 

These are little examples I wanted to share with you, since you probably don’t hear as many positives as negatives as our Head of School. From our side, we see the confidence building in our kids.