For 40 years, the children at John Colet School in Belrose have practised a form of daily mindfulness called ‘the pause’ where they stop to gather themselves for five seconds before starting any new activity.
Headmaster Julian Wilcock says the pause fosters self-awareness and an ability to deal with life’s challenges, skills that will set them up to be confident, resilient, and enthusiastic learners in high school and beyond.
“It’s just a moment to quiet the emotions, bring yourself into the present and focus on the task at hand,” Julian says, noting that the pause is an example of John Colet’s broader aim of developing students’ empathy and self-awareness.
“The purpose of pausing is to teach children how to give their attention to a single task by focusing on the moment. It’s a skill I use every day.”
While we are well-known for our academics, our goal remains to build each child’s confidence and adaptability, which we do through a traditional curriculum and a focus on liberal arts subjects like Drama, classical languages, public speaking, Art, singing and Philosophy.
We see the Infants and Primary years as fundamental in setting the academic foundations, as well as a love of learning, resilience, and a feeling of self-worth that a child will need to enter high school and beyond.
The popularity of enrolling at John Colet School resonates with the Northern Beaches Community. This co-educational, multi-faith Kindergarten to Year 6 school recommends applying as early as possible to secure a place in Kindergarten. Limited 2024 places are available in some year groups. Reach out to the school today to arrange a tour.
Address: 6 Wyatt Avenue, Belrose
Phone: 9451 8395
Email: admin@johncolet.nsw.edu.au
Website: https://www.johncolet.nsw.edu.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnColetSchool
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JohnColetSchool/