Welcome back to another exciting term at Holy Spirit Catholic School. It is hard to believe we are in the month of October, Missions Month. How the year flies by.

This term, we welcome some new members of staff for the remainder of the year. Please make them feel the sense of community we are so very good at Holy Spirit. Welcome to Sonia Foster in 1D, Ignatius Veukiso in 5A and Nancy Johnson team teaching in 6C. These new staff members have had some experience with our school already, but we do welcome them back.

Over the holidays, I was reading a variety of books and articles and one particular literary piece spoke to me as the Principal of this great school. I talk to staff about 'feedback' and we can either reject or accept. However, feedback can be known as a variety of terms in today's society. If we only provide negative comment, we can be labelled a 'whinger'. If we provide only praise, it can lose its potency.

A past Principal once said, " Our Spirit is expressed in Constructive Criticism" What this means is that you provide a learning opportunity when you give feedback on an action someone has taken rather than a judgement.

Taking this in, I was able to find some helpful tips that we as the Spirit community can use for 'Constructive Feedback':

1. Only criticise the action not the person.
2. Always give specifics and avoid generalisations. It is in the details that we provide the learning opportunity.
3. Provide suggestions on what the person can do to improve. This is what makes it constructive criticism.
4. Provide your feedback in private, never behind someone's back or in public. There is never a positive to come from this.

Later this term, part of my own reflection, I will be asking for feedback on my year as Principal. I look forward to hearing suggestions for me and how we can continue to make Holy Spirit "GREAT"

Happy Days

Paul Martin