As adults, we’re often struck by how quickly time flies. The school years are no exception, which is why it is so important that during this formative time students make the most of every opportunity by engaging and ‘having a go’.  

There are several factors that may lead students to being reluctant to try something new and be fully involved in the life of their school.  

With the advent of smartphones and social media, young people now face a range of competing interests. Social media can consume up to three hours a day, crowding out opportunities that adults know can lead to formative experiences; lifelong friendships and social connections, as well as a growing sense of confidence, capacity and resilience.  

The seminal 2008 book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain highlighted the role of exercise and fitness in learning and wellbeing of students, including:  

• an improved disposition towards learning through increased concentration, memory and cognitive processing speed
• improved moods and mental health, including managing stress and anxiety
• increased motivation and engagement.

At Beaconhills we encourage our students to be fully engaged and ‘busy’ in the life of our school community.   

Let’s keep encouraging students to be engaged in all aspects of school life, so that when their school years flash by, they will look back and recall with fondness and pride what they achieved during a time they will never experience again.  

Let’s encourage them to ‘seize the day’.