What a success!
There are many notions that people subscribe to when it comes to defining success. What does it mean to be successful? The following definition is one that James Anderson1 suggests is commonly accepted by most people – “success is achieving a goal that requires effort.” His point is that, irrespective of what you aim to accomplish, if you set a goal that is not easily achieved, if you have to work hard to get there and you achieve the goal, then you are successful.
Over the past week we have been treated to numerous examples of success at Matahui School in various spheres of learning .
Rose and Caitlin’s netball team placed second in their division – a huge accomplishment. Harry Chissell’s under 11 Te Puna rugby team won the Western Bay competition and will go on to represent this area against Eastern Bay. Harry’s contribution to the team was recognized by him being awarded the “most improved player” for the season. Our basketball teams, though still relatively inexperienced are consistently winning games against taller, skillful teams. Our Year 6 WBEET Bay Mathematics quiz team, Jay, Kayla and Rory were placed a creditable third in the team challenge and fifth overall from approximately forty teams. In the Tall Poppy Mathematics problem solving competition our Year 8 team comprised of Jessica, Ben and Libby, came first and our Year 7 team, Ruby, Olympia and Ella placed first equal in their section. Kayla was placed second in Year 6 North Cluster speech finals and Rory was awarded a Highly Commended in the Year 5 competition. Ruby and her father Dave, both avid writers, will have their poetry published in the 2014 NZPS anthology titled “photo of great granddad.” Kate Bruning’s book, “Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon” was recently published and since going “public”, has been enthusiastically received by children and adults alike.
Yes – incredible measures of success. In every instance, the goals that were set in the diverse range of successes listed above, were not easy to achieve. They required substantial effort, focus, skill and commitment and certainly provide reason to celebrate what makes this learning community special. Perhaps we should finish with a final quote from Winston Churchill.
“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”2
- Author of Succeeding with Habits of Mind and founder of the Habits of Mind Teachers Network
- http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/winston_churchill.html
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