Deputy Principal (Kelly Anderson)

Learning Environment and Staff Wellbeing

Hands up who's tired? Yes, that's what I thought - all of you. It's important to acknowledge the term we are having. The impact of Covid has meant more internal relief at times, more following up of absent students and making sure they have the class work, more worrying about our own health and the health of those we care about. It is normal to be feeling tired, stressed and sometimes even a little grumpy. But, when we go into the classroom, or we interact with students in the yard, we need to make sure we are emotionally regulated and able to maintain a positive tone when managing student behaviour.

The Third Space

A little strategy that you could try to help you emotionally regulate is the "third space". This is the transition space between one thing and another. Adam Fraser wrote an entire book about this concept, but here is a diagram to simplify it. It basically involves taking a short pause as you transition, to reflect, rest and reset. It is about being mindful, and about recognising any dysregulation you may be feeling. You might then need to do some breathing exercises or whatever it is that works for you to get regulated.

If you struggle with your emotional regulation, you may need to seek further support. This could be catching up with a friend, talking to your line manager, or it may need to be some specific counselling from our employee assistance provider - PeopleSense - see the link below.