There is always a plan at the start of the year. You map it out, think it through, and set things up with care and intention. And then, sometimes, things get in the way.

It is Term 1, Week 8, and this is my first post for 2026. That probably says enough. The start of the year at Wirrigirri hasn’t been as smooth as we all intended. It has been full, a bit messy at times, and definitely not what we had planned.

Over the past eight weeks, we have navigated some complex situations, prolonged staff absences and moments where priorities have shifted quickly. There have been times where things have needed immediate attention, whether we were ready for them or not. Plans have changed, roles have shifted, and decisions have had to be made quickly, often without having the full picture.

But what I keep coming back to is this. What actually keeps things going when it feels like everything is a bit off track?

For me, it is the basics. The things you put in place before things get hard. Clear expectations, so people know what matters. Honest and fair communication, so no one is left guessing. Strong structures and organisation, so there is something steady to lean on. Thoughtful workforce design, so you can adapt without everything falling apart. Leaders who are informed, fair, and responsive, and who stay close to what is actually happening day to day.

None of this is flashy, but it is what holds everything together. These are the things that shape how people experience the work, particularly when it is challenging.

This isn’t just instinct or experience. It is reflected strongly in research on effective school leadership. Viviane Robinson’s work highlights that the leaders who make the greatest difference are those who stay closely connected to teaching and learning, while also building trust through clarity, fairness, and consistency. Bryk and Schneider’s research on relational trust shows that schools with high levels of trust are far more likely to navigate challenge and change successfully, because people feel safe, supported, and clear about expectations. Michael Fullan also speaks to the importance of coherence, where strong systems, shared understanding, and aligned practices allow schools to keep moving forward, even in complex conditions.

And this is where culture shows up. Not when things are going well, but when they are not. In how people respond, how teams support each other, and whether expectations still hold when things feel stretched.

Despite all of this, there have been far more glimmers than not. Students are settled. Routines have been established. Relationships have formed and continue to grow. Learning is happening. There is joy on the faces of the little people we are so lucky to work with everyday. There is a sense of calm and purpose in our spaces, even on the harder days.

That hasn’t happened by chance. It speaks to what has been built over time, and to the consistency of what we have put in place. It reflects the clarity of expectations, the strength of our structures, and the way our team shows up for each other and for our students, day in and day out.

It would have been easy for things to feel unsettled this term. For routines to slip. For energy to dip. For the experience for students to feel inconsistent.

But that hasn’t been the case. And that is what I keep coming back to.

We have created a place where, even when things don’t go to plan behind the scenes, what students experience remains steady. Where relationships continue to deepen, learning continues to progress, and there is a shared sense of calm and direction.

I don’t take that lightly. It is something I feel incredibly grateful for, and something I am deeply proud of.

It also reinforces something I have written about before. In those early days of building Wirrigirri, I reflected on the pace and unpredictability of the work in Building Wirrigirri: Fast, Fun and Finding Our Way, and later on the importance of staying anchored in purpose in Leading with Purpose in a Year of Firsts. This term has felt like a continuation of both. Fast at times, messy at times, but grounded in something steady.

The start of 2026 has been a reminder that culture is not something you just talk about when everything is running smoothly. It is built in the hard moments. In the messy weeks. In the times where things don’t go to plan.

And if you get that right, everything else holds.

~ Bec

References

Bryk, A. S., & Schneider, B. (2002). Trust in Schools: A Core Resource for Improvement.
https://www.russellsage.org/publications/trust-schools

Fullan, M. (2016). The New Meaning of Educational Change (5th ed.).
https://michaelfullan.ca/books/new-meaning-educational-change/

Robinson, V. (2011). Student-Centered Leadership.
https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Student-Centered+Leadership-p-9781118090299