Secondary

Mr Chris Graham

Assistant Principal (Secondary)

Emotions are endless, inexhaustible resource, but attention is limited and is a new commodity. 

Many of you would have heard us talk about the value of excellence. This value was incorporated due to feedback from focus groups (students, parents and teachers), who contributed to the development of our new strategic plan. There are many ways in which this value can be incorporated into schooling. Recently, I’ve been pondering how to incorporate it into our learning. I think it's interesting to place learning into the context of the world in which we’re living - one that seems to be hyper-emotional.

This knowledge seems to have been highjacked by certain areas of society that seem to exploit our emotions. I’m sure many of us would be familiar with the feeling of engaging in some form of technology (phone, laptop, console, etc.), having our emotions continually heightened, then finally coming off the technology and not realizing that we have in fact been taken away from reality for much longer than we expected (often hours). Our emotions are continual; be they positive or negative, they never run out.

However, while they never run out, certain industries make it their mission to engage our emotions for as long as possible in order to win a much bigger and limited prize: our attention. Our attention is not limitless and has been turned into a commodity - one that is marketed. Unfortunately, these are competing directly with (and in opposition to) learning. 

Learning requires large slabs of time and attention, with a narrow focus. Technology provides constant distractions that prevent us from continually focusing on one thing. This can be true of studying for a test, learning a new concept, learning a sporting skill or learning music. In order to master any of these areas, we must devote large amounts of uninterrupted time to practising and mastering. 

For students who are wishing to achieve their highest level, this is also true. They need to be digitally mature, understanding when to put down their device and understanding how to focus for long periods of time on a single task - in essence, to practice excellence. 

Hopefully some of you understand the irony: that you are in fact reading this on a device and probably (like me) also looking at your phone, with the TV on and your airpods in with some good music. So if you’ve managed to read to the end of this article and have a single focus for a couple of minutes, well done!! It looks like we all have a lot to learn.

Ms Melissa D'Amico

Deputy Head Secondary (Middle School Culture)

The Year 7 students headed off to their school camp at Phillip Island Adventure Resort on Wednesday this week. The camp is a great opportunity for our students to bond with each other and experience a range of fun and exciting activities.

The Phillip Island Adventure Resort is located in a picturesque location and offers a wide range of activities for our students. During their stay, students are given the chance to try out archery, tackle the high ropes course, engage in various ball games, go canoeing, and even build their own raft in a team-building exercise.

These activities are designed to challenge our students both physically and mentally, in a a safe and supportive environment. By stepping out of their comfort zone, our students learn the value of teamwork, problem-solving and perseverance. They will also develop a sense of independence and self-confidence as they navigate new experiences and overcome obstacles.

In addition to the physical benefits of participating in these activities, our students will also develop their social skills and make lasting friendships. The camp provides a unique opportunity for our students to spend quality time together outside of the classroom, creating memories and connections that will last a lifetime.

The benefits of attending a school camp are invaluable. It is a chance for our students to learn and grow in ways that cannot be replicated in the classroom. 

Speaking of camps: while one is underway, the staff are busy preparing for the Year 9 Camp to Central Australia in May.  An information session for parents will be held on Wednesday 15 March at 7.00pm in the CPA, so please mark this date on your calendar. This trip is an invaluable immersion for all Year 9 students into Australian country and cultures. It will help students understand the significance and history of the First Nations people. 

Here are some photos of our Year 7 students at the Phillip Island camp.