The Principal's Door

This was the door at Coolum State High School through which I met the new staff and families of Peregian Springs State School in 2009. It was usually propped open while I was there and from my desk I could look out over the front of the school, and through my door I watched the high school students passing by.

My 'new' door is at the end of a corridor. I can't see anyone passing but I can usually hear them coming.

My door is always open; well, maybe not 100% always but pretty much always.Through it comes many members of our school community every day - kids, staff, parents, carers, grandparents and other family members; community representatives, local business owners, the school's owners and care takers, the maintenance staff, more kids, staff and parents; journalists, builders, plumbers and electricians, contract staff, ICT techs, safety inspectors, teachers and Principals from other schools (from all over the world), our Japanese Sister school staff, wistful teachers looking for work, high school students, new enrolments; regional and central office staff (and once, the Director-General); and you guessed, more kids, staff and parents.

The common entree as the heads appear around the frame is 'Gwen, have you got a minute?' It's never a minute - but I don't mind. Through my door comes happiness, hopes and wishes; excitement, smiles and laughs; success, good ideas, and achievement; dreams and stories, pride and satisfaction. And sometimes frustration, disappointment, anger and tears. The carpet is wearing thin near the door but still they all come in.

The Principal's door is always open.

Families like ours

This article appeared in our newsletter and was written by Maree, our Teacher Librarian. Maree is stocking some interesting children's literature in the Resource Centre that celebrate our diversity in society.

There are many different types of families. In children’s literature, we have met families such as The Swiss Family Robinson, Anne of Green Gable’s family, Little Women, The Seven Little Australians, The Famous Five (mainly about the siblings), My Brother Jack, The Dairy of Anne Frank, and more recently A Series of Unfortunate Events (about three orphaned siblings) and picture books like Are We There Yet? about a family travelling around Australia. The stereotypical nuclear family has mum, dad and a son and a daughter.

But times have changed and contemporary television programs like Modern Families deliberately highlight the diversity that occurs in contemporary society. In our own community, there are many single-parent families, small families of two, larger extended families, families from non-Australian backgrounds, families with two Dads, and families with two Mums.

As part of the History learning area of the Australian Curriculum, students learn about families that are different to their own. We have purchased some picture books to support this. These are available to teachers and parents (and are not on the general bookshelves). Some books about alternative families we now have in our Resource Centre are  Daddy, Papa and Me,  I call my Grandpa Papa and  In our Mothers’ House.

 

Although we’re not related by blood, I like to think that I’m part of a family of book-lovers and readers, and that I’m closely connected to the child who raced into the library last week and cried out ‘Miss Maree, I have good news. I can read!’ I’m very proud that of so many students in our very large Peregian Springs State School family also belong to the family of book-lovers and readers that  one day will move and shake the world.

Thank you, Maree, for your contribution. I hope that parents will take advantage of your offer, and come and look at these new books.