Respect: The Foundation for Growing Successful Human Beings

Dear Families,

As you look at the photo included with this newsletter, we invite you to reflect on a powerful idea:

“It’s not what we do for our children, but what we have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.” - Ann Landers

This message is at the heart of what we strive for every day at our school. Respect isn’t just a word we mention in assemblies or display on posters; it’s something we live and breathe through our actions, our words, and the way we treat each other—students, staff, and families alike.

Why Does Respect Matter?

Respect is more than good manners or polite words. It’s the foundation for every healthy relationship and a thriving school community. When we show respect, we help everyone feel safe, valued, and ready to learn. Research shows that respectful classrooms are calmer, more focused, and more enjoyable for everyone (KidsMatter, 2018). Respect builds trust and friendship, helps us work together despite our differences (Beyond Blue, 2023), and prepares our children for life beyond school (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2022).

Keeping Respect Front and Centre

We know that respect isn’t a “one and done” lesson. It’s something we need to talk about, model, and practice every day—at school and at home. Habits of respect are built over time, through small actions: a friendly smile in the morning, patience when someone makes a mistake, listening without interrupting, and looking out for each other.

Our community is always growing and changing, with new students, families, and staff joining us each year. By continuing to focus on respect, we ensure that everyone feels welcome and understands that respect is a core value here. Even in a caring school, misunderstandings and disagreements can happen. Respect is the key to resolving these moments kindly and fairly.

Empowering Our Children

The included photo is a reminder of the bigger picture: our goal is not just to do things for our children, but to teach them how to do things for themselves. When we teach and model respect, we’re giving our children the tools they need to navigate challenges, build strong relationships, and become resilient, thoughtful, and successful members of any community.

Let’s keep these conversations going at home. Ask your children what respect looks like to them, share examples from your own lives, and celebrate those small moments when you see respect in action. Together, we can help our children grow into the best versions of themselves.

Thank you for being such an important part of our respectful school community.

Warm regards,

Alkimos Respectful Relationships Team

References:

• Australian Government Department of Education. (2024). Respectful Relationships Education
• Beyond Blue. (2023). Building Respectful Relationships
• (2018). Respectful Classrooms
• Australian Human Rights Commission. (2022). Respect: What does it mean?