Fresh Eyes

Big round eyes as you experience new places, meet new faces, travel out of your comfort zone, not knowing what is next… have you ever felt like that? 

Over 90 Year 6 students from Avondale School and other schools experienced that on Thursday last week as they participated in the Year 7 Orientation Day on the Secondary Campus. Stepping into a new environment can be both exciting and overwhelming. We watched the Year 6 students go from being wide-eyed and unsure of what to expect, to being excited about their adventure throughout the day. This annual event not only acquaints students with their surroundings but also fosters a sense of belonging, personal growth, and discovery. It also gives us the opportunity to look at our Secondary Campus with their fresh eyes. 

We love Orientation Day as it allows us to demonstrate to our future students that every new moment presents an opportunity to embark on a fresh start, to learn, and to grow. The program allows students to leave behind any preconceived notions and approach their educational journey with open minds, ready to absorb new knowledge and experiences.

The experience of our Year 6 students can be likened to a trip to the optometrist. Our vision can sometimes be a little blurry and unclear, like an older pair of glasses. You struggle to see details and make sense of your surroundings. Having updated your prescription with the optometrist, you put on your new glasses and your vision improves dramatically. Suddenly, everything becomes clear, vibrant and well-defined. You notice details that were previously hidden and your perspective on the world changes. 

"Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change." Wayne Dyer.  

Fresh eyes or a new prescription gives us the advantage of a new perspective, it helps us ‘change the way we look at things’. It is not about trying to do or see things the same way, it is about us as a school listening to the feedback from our students, staff and families through the surveys recently completed. This then allows us to make positive changes in areas in need of growth and improvement. 

We thank you and appreciate you sharing your eyes, your perspective. In doing so, the school metaphorically is able to update our prescription which gives us clarity and helps us look at things differently through the ‘fresh eyes’ of our community. The school is keen to take on the fresh eyes of our students and our community to nurture our students' curiosity and support their educational exploration so they can embrace the transformative potential that awaits them.

What are some ways you as a family can, with fresh eyes, change the way you look at things?

Let your eyes look directly ahead. And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Proverbs 4:25

Mrs Hayley Ferris

Head of Secondary