Senior Years Update

On Managing Stress

As we prepare to engage in the first round of assessments, senior students have attended a session explaining the role of stress in our lives. During the session students discussed that stress is a normal physiological and psychological reaction to a situation that we care about, and that we require stress to be at our best. Students analysed the distinction between balancing the positive impacts of stress on performance and ensuring that we can recognise when this stress might require addressing.   

Students explored their natural stress responses, highlighting if they normally engaged in fight, flight or freeze behaviours so that they could be aware of their common stress signals and then explored strategies to assist them in managing their stress using our framework of Believe I.C.A.N.  

• Believe: Box Breathing – the initial reaction to encountering strong emotions. Slowing our breathing to ensure we are responding in our calmest state. Students used the below visual to practice this technique.  

https://www.psychotherapistaustin.com/blog/box-breathing 

• I: Identify and validate the feeling: Acknowledging how stress is impacting them, writing down their feelings, labelling them and validating that they can feel this way. Students were shown the strategy of using a worry timer or a brain dump to help them complete this step.  
• C: Challenge unhelpful thinking: Questionany thoughts that might not be reasonable, or that might be exacerbating our stress.  
• A: Accept: Acknowledgewhat you cannot change in the situation and identify those elements of the situation that remain in your control. 
• N: Now what? Make steps to address the situation using the things you can control and the supports you do have.  

We know however, that one of the most important stress management strategies is maintaining connection and engaging in social activities. As such, we have also continued to engage in our quest to learn about and celebrate with those around us. The senior students enjoyed gathering for a shared 'Galantine's Day' themed morning tea where they were able to partake in quizzes, share some treats, spread positive energy with gratitude notes and make macaroni necklaces. We have also enjoyed gathering to distribute the Y12 Hoodies and celebrate the Induction of the Y12 Class of 2024, who pledged their commitment to being strong leaders in our school. It was wonderful to be able to bring the entire senior school and parents of the Class of 2024 together for this important occasion. 

We look forward to continuing to celebrate together and supporting one another through any times that might feel challenging.  

Rebecca Wright

Year 12 Coordinator