Dear Ash Mount Community,
I hope you all had a lovely summer break and that the return to school has been filled with moments of excitement and reconnection. The first week after a holiday is always a special one; full of new beginnings, fresh routines, and opportunities to set the tone for the term ahead.
One of the most important gifts we can give our children at this stage of the year is the reassurance of a routine. While young people may push back against it, the truth is that predictable structures help them feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Routines nurture both wellbeing and health, giving children the stability they need to thrive.
- For our youngest learners in Pre and KG, routine provides a sense of security. Bedtimes, story times, and clear morning rituals help them know what comes next. This consistency eases the big step of starting school.
- For children in Grades 1–5, routines are the bridge between home and school life. Regular sleep patterns, set times for homework and play, and predictable family rhythms give children the energy and balance they need to enjoy learning.
- For our secondary students, routines become an exercise in responsibility. Even teenagers benefit from steady sleep and daily rhythms, though they may resist them at first. Encouraging them to co-create routines gives them ownership and makes them more likely to follow through.
Involving children in shaping routines, in an age-appropriate way, is also important. When students are part of the process, they understand the “why” behind decisions and are more committed to following them. In education we call this student agency, and it is something we will embed at Ash Mount School. It connects directly to our vision: helping our young people to lead with courage and live with compassion as they make choices that affect themselves and others.
A practical strategy that many families find helpful is habit stacking: linking a new habit to one that already exists. For example, always putting shoes or school bags in the same place can make the morning routine calmer and more predictable. Children take comfort in these small consistencies. It is the same for adults, teachers, for example, always keeping their staff passes in the same spot; or the familiar act of brushing our teeth each morning and night. These small habits build stability and reduce stress for everyone.
As we step into this new term, let us focus on routines not as restrictions but as scaffolding, giving children the security and balance they need to embrace new beginnings with confidence.
Warm regards,
Abigail Fishbourne
Founding Principal, Ash Mount School