Term 2 starts: why early?

Terrm 2 classes are starting this Saturday. I also wanted to take a moment to explain why we begin before the school term officially starts. From the very beginning of our school, our first class was scheduled early in the week. The reasoning was simple — if something is truly important, it should happen first. Learning mathematics, for us, isn’t something we “fit in” around other activities. It’s something we prioritise. Ideally, it becomes the first thing we engage with in the week — something that sets the tone. In contrast to this, I've noticed that school development days and public holidays would regularly and systematically disrupt day schools. It’s surprisingly easy to lose two or more lessons across a term without realising it. Rather than accept that, we made a conscious decision not to cancel classes for these reasons. This is part of a broader principle — commitment. We want to teach this not just in words, but by example. Since the beginning of the school over 8 years ago, we have never missed or cancelled a class. The same philosophy applies to holidays. Holidays are often seen as a time to stop — and sometimes they should be. But more fundamentally, they are a time where you have the freedom to choose what you want to do. If a student doesn’t want to study, that’s fine. But if a student genuinely enjoys learning — and many of our students do — then it makes perfect sense for them to choose to continue during that time. Our students prioritise mathematics because they enjoy it and value it. When given the freedom to choose, they choose to engage more deeply. That’s the culture we aim to build. Looking forward to seeing everyone this Term