Student Wellbeing

Wellbeing Update from our Student Leaders

One of the key goals in our School Improvement Plan and Annual Action Plan is to give student a voice in the decision making processes of the school. This is something that the Lamp Bearers and Student Representative Council are focusing on in their work this year. Our Student Leadership team have a number of projects that they are focusing on in Semester 1. These include:

• A review of the School Uniform – e.g. they have highlighted concerns in relation to the school tracksuit pants and exploring ways in which they see that the uniform can improve.
• A review of the Canteen – with the focus on looking at the items that are served and sold at the canteen. They are working towards a menu that is focused on healthy and affordable options for the student body. Another focus is that packaging is more sustainable for our environment. finally, thay are also investigating a cashless option when purchasing items from the canteen that is planned to be in place in semester 2 of this year.
• Revision of the Student Leadership Communication model – The aim of this work is to identify what roles are available for student leadership and how they relate with each other and the Student Representative Council. Any proposals are forwarded to Mr. Pisani.
• The Child Safety Sub-Committee of the SRC – are extending the work done by the student group in 2021. They are exploring the ways that all members of our community are aware of our Child Friendly version of our Child Safety Policy. Furthermore, they aim that all are made aware of the work that is being done in improving the safety around the school. They are also ensuring that the new changes to the Child Safety Standards, which will come into effect in July 2022, are communicated effectively. Over coming editions of the Marian News, we will include information from our student leaders about how they are unpacking the policy for our student body and the key pieces of information that all members of our community need to be aware of. In this edition of the Marian we will include the Child Friendly version of our policy for your reference.

We look forward to demonstrating to our community how are student leaders are working to make our community safe and constantly evolving.

Student Leaders supporting our School events 

Over the last week, we have seen our Student Leaders again make a contribution to events that take place within our community. Firstly, on Friday 6 May our SRC leaders were here at 7.15 on the morning of the Mother’s Day Breakfast to assist with greeting parents and families entering the school and ushering them to the Louise Cleary Learning Centre where Breakfast and the event were held. 

Secondly, on Monday 9 May and Wednesday 11 May a number of Year 7/8 students, some of whom are student leaders and others who just wanted to assist, helped with ushering our new families for 2023 to their individual interviews with members of the School Leadership Team. 

One of KEM Core Values is centred on welcoming and hospitality and our student leaders and volunteers demonstrated this in the work that they did to make both events very successful. One of best advertisements for our school are our students and the work they do with our community.

Community Concern – Vaping 

We have been reminded by the Community Police again this year of a worrying trend for young people in our society in relation to having access and participating in vaporing. 

This means that these students have access to the device or implement that is used for vaporing commonly described as e-cigarettes.

Our policies and processes are very clear about this issue. We view the use of this device and its use in the same way that we view smoking at school or in uniform. Hence, we remind you that any student found smoking or vaporing will be automatically suspended.

This will be reinforced at upcoming assemblies.

On 27 May we have organised for the Community Police to come and speak to our Year 9 & 10 students about this issue as well as social media concerns. We value the input of the Community Police in helping our young people and supporting our community to address these issues. Other Year levels will have the Community Police return later on in the year.

The Community Police have also confirmed that some local shops are selling the device to students and that the vaporised material that is used to load the device usually contains nicotine even if it is not listed as an ingredient on the packaging.

We encourage all families to discuss this recent trend with their daughter’s especially with regard to their health and the consequences of their actions. 

Health concerns 

We continue to be challenged by COVID and while in Australia we have returned to life that is almost back to normal we remind all members of our community that we should continue to practice the key aspects of health protection that we have learned over the last 2 years. This includes staying home and getting tested if you are feeling unwell or presenting any of the symptoms , for example, a runny nose or cough. Also continuing to practice good hygiene practices such as washing hands and using hand sanitiser frequently and not sharing items such as food utensils with others. We will continue to send students home over the course of the day who have presented at school with symptoms that could be COVID related.

We also remind you that winter is a challenging time of the year in relation to other infections such as influenza and other airborne diseases.

It is important that when sneezing do so into your elbow or a tissue. Wash hands when going to the toilet and before touching food. Also, as we share the school with another 1000 people every day, it is also important that we are doing our best to stay healthy and keep our community safe as well. 

Wellbeing

As we approach the end of Semester exams we encourage our families to monitor their daughter’s in terms of the stress and concerns that these activities may cause many individuals. Responses can vary from being quiet, to tears to even changes in behaviour. If you have any concerns in relation to this please do not hesitate in contacting your daughter’s homeroom teacher or Year Level leader so that strategies can be put in place to support each and every one of our students.

Kerrie Williams

Assistant to the Principal – Student Wellbeing