2016 has well and truly begun and over the past seven weeks we have already experienced so many things at our college. I am very privileged to now have all three of my boys attending our college with Tully now in kindergarten, Zander in Year 3 and my oldest boy Indigo now in Year 8.
As a parent and also the CEO of our college I have been so pleased to personally witness the affect our program has on young people.
Tully in kindergarten has been exposed to so many interesting and fun experiences from tasting seafood in his classroom and learning about things under the sea, through to taking part in gymnastics, swimming, Wacky Walking Wednesday, playing futsal and learning the starfish in tennis. It is a jam-packed week for our ‘Incredible Kinders’ and I am so pleased to have such a great team in kindy with Bam, Soozie and Peta keeping college fun and exciting.
Zander is our second boy and started with us this year in Year 3. He came from another local independent college and we were very nervous to know how he would go. He had never played team sport before coming to IFS (besides a little futsal last year at Friday night futsal). He has gone from little physical activity and small classroom numbers to a college where he plays football everyday and attends a classroom with almost 50 other Year 3 and 4 students. The transition was challenging for him, however we witnessed a mini Brad Porter moment on the weekend which brought tremendous joy to our hearts. On the way to his very first trial game playing for Kariong (as part of his IFS team) his big brother asked him if he was looking forward to the game and if he was worried about winning or losing. Zander quite quickly responded with, “Indigo, it is not about who wins or loses, the game is the winner in the end.” To top this off, on the way home from that game Indigo then asked him if he was happy they won (which they did so convincingly). Zander then very seriously said, “Indigo, you don’t understand. If we play games that we win easily then we are not really developing; we want to be challenged, that is how development happens.” I have to say I am a very proud dad of an eight year old!
Indigo is now in his second year of high college and experiencing the many challenges of navigating being a teenager. I have seen him blossom socially and develop some great friendships with his classmates. He has developed a strong work ethic and is extremely fit for a 13 year old. I have enjoyed watching him learn to interact with his teachers and when a teenager describes one of his teachers as weird you know you are on a winner. He continues to love coming to college and as a parent I could not be more happy.
I have to thank all the staff at college for creating the very environment I had dreamed of when we started this journey. I am so very much looking forward to the years ahead of us.
We have had very similar conversations with Kaden as well, Paul. Brad is certainly making a huge, positive impact on these kids. As you know, we completely share your thoughts and wants for the college and am so happy so far! We look forward to sharing the journey for many years to come!
Very proud of you Paul and just love it that the boys are all going to the same college.