Kilgraston attends schools conference
Kilgraston pupils Phoebe and Katie recently attended a schools’ conference where the discussion centred around steps, we could take to improve the world. The European Sacred Heart Schools Conference saw pupils from Sacred Heart schools around the world take part virtually in stimulating workshops and lectures looking at ways we could work together to protect our planet.
In the breakout sessions, Katie and Phoebe spoke about how they were both members of the school eco committee and how our the fortnight of activities in school during COP 26 helped Kilgraston pupils become better informed about the environment. They also mentioned various school campaigns we have undertaken such as the campaign against single use plastics.
For months now, Kilgraston’s glass corridor has been a sea of colour and powerful messages regarding the environmental issues we are currently facing. In one of the breakout sessions, Katie and Phoebe highlighted this project and how it helped to send daily reminders to the school community about the beauty of the natural world and the creative and informative lessons the glass corridor has given us all.
As well as sharing our own initiatives, the event also gave the opportunity to hear from other schools and Sacred Heart representatives including two from Sacred Heart United Nations NGO Office. So, with luck some of what was discussed at the event, could be filtered through to the headquarters of the United Nations.
Lessons in how to be a good leader
What are the qualities of being a good leader? This was the topic of an assembly by Sacred Heart Ambassador Ann Miller.
Ann, who usually visits the school in person to hold sessions with Kilgraston pupils, discussed how throughout life we have to learn to deal with a variety of people and how we can all learn to work together can make something a success rather than a failure.
Ann, who recorded the assembly from San Francisco, said: “When I joined your assembly last September I talked about some of the qualities we need in these challenging times: resilience, flexibility and awareness of others. Now, I’d like to say a few things about working with others, particularly those who are difficult to work with.
“What is the first thing we need to know before we can lead others? The answer is that we need to know ourselves. The next thing is we need to know is how we come across to others: do others see us as we see ourselves?”
Sacred Heart Goals are one of the cornerstones of Kilgraston and Ann discussed how these and specifically the Goal of community is the perfect partner to working as a team, working collectively.
Ann then looked at some of the top qualities of being a good leader. These included:
- Taking responsibility
- Treating people with respect.
- The importance of being calm.
- Listening and being a good listener.
- Not giving up.
- Having fun.
Thank you to Ann for an insightful and interesting assembly.
You can read more about some of our other recent assemblies here.