House Week - Finding Joy at School

Finding joy at school is essential for boys. It fosters engagement, motivation, and a desire for personal growth. When boys enjoy school, they are more likely to participate actively in both academic and extracurricular activities, leading to improved overall wellbeing. Joy at school also enhances self-confidence and a sense of purpose, encouraging students to take on challenges and develop essential life skills. We understand that for some, joy is not easy to find at school. We hope that at CBC Fremantle, each boy finds even glimmers of joy in their journey at the College.

One significant way we aim to create joy at school is through belonging to a House group. Our House system provides a sense of community, camaraderie, and friendly competition, helping boys feel valued and included. They build a shared identity and crucially, make school feel like more than just a place for lessons – it becomes a supportive environment where connections, relationships and friendships are at its core. Through both inter-House and intra-House games and activities, including Wedd Cup events, the students develop teamwork, leadership skills and understand the value of mutual support. Importantly, as a result of our Houses and Mentors, no boy walks their journey at the College alone.

Celebrating House Week this week has been joyful. From the House Week breakfast, Amazing Race puzzles, entertaining Portrait of Principal and the return of the King of the Cloisters event. So many students, and staff, have enjoyed these events with a smile and laughter. The House Cross Country is also a vibrant event full of House spirit – every boy that turns up and completes the course contributes points to his House. The students that excel as elite runners, as well as the boys who push themselves out of their comfort zones to make it to the finish line, all demonstrate immense understanding of what it means to fulfil their commitments and belong to a community.

I would encourage all parents and guardians to ask your son/s about their joyful moments at school. Perhaps it is in the friendships, no doubt the games played at recess and lunchtime, or in their favourite teachers and lessons. Hopefully, they tell you about their Mentor time – footy tipping competitions, ping-pong events, quizzes and Kahoot's, their Mentor teacher's welcoming smile. We hope that even when parts of their school day are challenging, they always have the knowledge that the start of each school day is a place of joy.

This week we celebrate a community where every boy is encouraged to strive for his best, knowing that his House and his school stand behind him, ready to lift him up.

Ms Emer Hickey
Deputy Principal - Pastoral Care