Taking care of what is controllable

It is often the things that require zero talent that if we concentrate our efforts on can create the foundation for happiness and success.

Attendance and being on time and then choosing a positive can-do attitude makes a big difference. The good news is that these three things are all in your control if you want them to be and they have nothing to do with talent. You can’t farm on concrete. For farming to be effective it needs fertile land.

For education and learning to be effective it requires consistent attendance and when in attendance it also requires high levels of engagement and a positive attitude. These things make for fertile planting of the learning process.

To have the motivation of high levels of academic progress and strong social development then some energy needs to be committed to turning up to school on time, all the time and being prepared. It requires focus and concentration on the work or the task at hand.

Energy flows where attention goes. If students are not here both physically and mentally then the chance of effective learning outcomes are significantly compromised. We all have talent, the opportunity and a desire to do well. What is then required is the need to put some skin in the game. This starts with 95%+ attendance and meaningful engagement in class all the time.

At Rutherford with regards to education, all students must strive for 95% + with the emphasis on the plus.  This and high levels of engagement provide the foundation for striving for personal excellence.

Integrity and responsibility require commitment. It means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do long after the mood you were in when you said it has long since passed. If attendance is something that is holding back progress and you say you want to improve your chances of success, then make sure that improved attendance patterns reflect this goal. If not, they are just words.

At Rutherford, we encourage people to talk the walk and walk the talk.

There are many students whose attendance is exemplary but who, next week after assembly, I will challenge to make a promise to themselves of one thing they would look to improve on or start doing. Please talk to your son or daughter about that promise they could make to themselves.

They will hopefully remember that it is not “I could-a, I should-a, I would-a”, but that they just did it.  They got started. The difference is that you take action, because if you are tired of starting over, then don’t stop in the first place.

This is the topic of discussion at all the assemblies next week.