Message from the Principal
What makes a great idea?
At the student assemblies last week, I took the opportunity to show our students a short video about how leadership can create positive and powerful community outcomes. The video told the story of connecting kindergarten students with residents of an aged care facility. This video documented some of the personal stories of how the elderly residents connected and bonded with the young visitors and discussed the outcomes of the program which included improved mood of the elderly residents, greater mobility and activity levels, increased opportunities for face to face interaction, and positive feelings regarding the program from both the elderly residents and the young people involved.
Below are the links to the videos I showed:
https://www.facebook.com/749037411843427/posts/2505528386194312?sfns=mo
https://www.facebook.com/38437995542/posts/10162098718005543?sfns=mo
I went on to then have a discussion with the students about leadership and service to our community. Thinking about the program as an example of positive community action, together we discussed some messages and ideas that I thought came out of the video, such as:
- Sometimes the simplest ideas can be the most powerful. Thousands of people would have walked and driven past the kindergarten and the elderly residence, and it took one person to see the opportunity to bring the two places together via a specific program.
- Doing something (acting) is as important as coming up with the ‘big’ idea. Sometimes I think we search for the most innovative or ‘revolutionary’ idea to solve a problem. This can take a long time, and possibly, this ultimate idea we are chasing never comes. Acting or doing something (even if we feel the idea or solution could be better) is the key. Having a great idea and doing nothing about it never impacts much.
- We learn by doing. Related to the point above, we really do not know the potential of an idea or solution until we act. We learn as we implement, and the ability to iterate and take on feedback as we go is often the best way to get the project moving and turn what we think is an average idea, into a great one.
- Connecting people is often our challenge. Even in this age of technology and social media, connecting people in meaningful and authentic ways is the key to a positive impact. Ideas that enrich the human connection usually have a better chance of success.
- It is all about the story. As a species, we are wired to connect to a great story. Powerful ideas often create powerful narratives that people can understand and relate to. The video I showed told a great story, and served to connect people emotionally which then improved the chances of others investing time and resources into the project.
We then spoke briefly about our upcoming KGV Winter Fair as an opportunity for leadership and community building. The major theme at the Winter Fair is to ‘celebrate giving and unity in our community’ with a specific focus on our ‘Helper’ community and their contribution to the lives of our students and families. We are encouraging our students to seek permission to bring along their ‘Helper’, buy them dinner at one of our many planned food stalls and then encourage them to enjoy the show.
Entry is free, and there will be a range of food, merchandise and activity stalls both run by local businesses and our students. Please put the School Fair down in your diary for Saturday 7th December 2019 from 4pm to 7.30pm.
Kind regards
Mark Blackshaw
Principal
King George V
