At our place, the centre of our home has always been the dining table. When our kids were little, we bought a large second-hand round timber table with heavy chairs. We had that table for decades. It had scratches everywhere, fork marks, countless spills, and many chips. It also held collective memory for us of our kids’ childhoods and the many hours of lively conversation and laughter with family and friends.

One of the most important things we can do as family is to sit down together to share a meal. Eating together is not just about the function of consuming food, it is about sharing time and space with each other. It is about the conversation that takes place at the dinner table. I understand that households are busy and that this is not always possible, but the more often the mealtime can be shared, the benefits for young people are immensely powerful.

There are many households in the world now where meals are almost never taken together. Or, conversely, we have all probably seen this scene where we are at the same table, but might as well be in different buildings altogether: picture the restaurant where parents are on their phones, the kid in the high chair has the iPad or phone propped up so they can watch a cartoon and the rest of the kids are likewise in their own world on one device or another.  I often lament that it seems like a waste of time and money going out “together” when I see this unfold.

Despite being more connected through the internet than ever, as humans, we have never felt lonelier. One way to combat this is to agree as a family, to sacrosanct time at the dinner table. This is where we can ask open-ended questions, particularly of our teenagers about their day, with whom they interacted, and how they feel about certain things. If all we get is a curt, one syllable answer, then the next step is to ask more specific questions about the three best things that have happened today, two things they might have been surprised by, one person they talked to, and what they gleaned from that person. One of my favourites used to be to ask our children for three things for which they have been grateful. An easy way to kill a conversation with some teens is to ask the blanket “how was school today?”

Being together for a meal brings natural conversation, openness to new ideas, sometimes arguments and disagreements, and always the opportunity to learn from each other. For younger children, merely being spoken to, and listening to language, increases functional vocabulary. It also helps children learn how to craft conversation, and what constitutes good conversation, turn taking, listening, and all in a social setting.

As we approach the most holy of seasons in our Christian calendar, I am reminded of the Last Supper. Perhaps this is not the neatest of segues here, but I think about the breaking of the bread, and the symbolism of this last shared meal with his friends, where Jesus instituted the Mass, in communion with the others at the table. When we gather to remember this sacred meal and participate in it with Jesus each Sunday, we do so as a memorial of Christ, and to remember the sacrifice that he made for all humanity, so that we might have life. Jesus did this because of his love for all of us, as we so often do with and for each other. Every meal with our families is a sacred time that we share. It is never wasted time, and it is never just about the food.

May your family tables be raucous, loud, full of laughter and robust conversation and be signs and symbols of your love of one another, and the love that we share in Jesus. 

Athletics Carnival

I am pleased to report that we had a better attendance at the Athletics carnival last week, however, having 226 students absent on the day is still not anywhere near where I would expect attendance to be at a school event. Seventy-two of these absences were unexplained. I am asking and indeed imploring all parents to work with us in creating the expectation with our young people (your children) that all school days count, and carnivals and celebration days are not an excuse for a day off. Again, if we are to lift school spirit and pride, we find it hard to do so when 25% of our school population chooses not to be there.

I offer my thanks to the PE faculty and all staff for their hard work in making the day a success.

Dr Craig Wattam
Principal