Last week in Senior School, we ran R U OK Week, a week which is dedicated to reminding people of the importance of noticing – noticing how those around them are going, noticing any changes, either in others or in themselves. In Chapel, we spoke about the key steps in asking 'R U OK?', building on this year's theme: 'There's more to say after 'R U OK?'. I laid out what I think are the four challenges in looking after each other:
It is like NAIDOC Week, which reminds us of the ongoing need for reconciliation and healing in our country. These are attitudes and behaviours we need to do over and over again so that they become habits. All of these things come down to being kind, showing kindness to others and ourselves, taking time out of our lives to show someone you care enough to notice and to ask them how they are doing and what you can do to help
Asking for help, or asking if someone is alright, is not easy for most people. Neither is singing in front of others. That is why, each year, I ask the Year 12s to sing a song. This year, we performed Blinding Lights, with lyrics reworked to fit the theme of 'R U OK' and we had the biggest participation level yet seen. Reaching out to others – taking the risk to show that we care – is outside of the comfort zone of many. Hopefully, the more we can encourage the boys to notice and to act, the better we will become as a society at coping with things.
This week, it is Middle School's turn. There will be Chapel and assembly items, as well as the opportunity to make 'R U OK' stickers.