Navigating AI relationships: what students should know

Artificial Intelligence is changing how we interact—and even how relationships form. A recent report explores the rise of AI-powered companion apps, which are increasingly popular among young people. While these apps offer personalised virtual friendships and romantic experiences, they also raise serious concerns around privacy, emotional wellbeing, and online safety.

Experts warn that adolescents may be vulnerable to inappropriate content and unhealthy emotional attachments through these platforms. The report encourages families and schools to stay informed and maintain open conversations about the risks and benefits of AI in social settings.

Read the full article here: Navigating AI Relationships – SchoolTV

Supporting teen mental health: FREE webinars for parents and caregivers by

Black Dog Institute

Parenting a teenager can be both rewarding and challenging, particularly when it comes to their mental health and wellbeing.

To support parents and carers in this important journey, the Black Dog Institute is offering a series of free mental health webinars.

These webinars are designed to provide practical tools, strategies, and insights to help you support the young people in your life. Co-delivered by a clinical psychologist and a youth lived experience advisor, the sessions will cover a range of essential topics, including:

Understanding mental health in adolescence, with insights from the Future Proofing Study
Recognising what mental health is and when to be concerned
Key strategies to support adolescents effectively
How to have the conversation – what to say and how to create a supportive environment
Accessing help – guidance on health professionals, online, and digital support for parents and adolescents
Promoting healthy habits – including building connections, sleep and managing screen use

These webinars offer a valuable opportunity to empower yourself with knowledge and strategies to support your teen's mental health journey. We encourage all parents and carers to register and take advantage of this insightful resource.

For upcoming webinar dates and to book your spot, please click here: Register for the webinar

Bullying No Way Day: A Celebration of kindness and inclusion

On Friday 15 August, our school community came together to take a stand against bullying and promote kindness as part of Bullying No Way Day.

The event was a huge success, with students enjoying a vibrant lunchtime filled with garden games, face painting, temporary tattoos and rock painting.

The Students Representative Council (SRC) added to the fun by handing out colourful bracelets, badges, and stickers, helping spread positive messages across the school.

One of the most meaningful highlights was our Kindness Wall, where students shared heartfelt messages encouraging self-belief and compassion toward others. These contributions reminded us all of the power of kindness in building a respectful and inclusive school culture.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the day so special.

New water fountains installed across campus

In response to student voice, our Student Representative Council (SRC) leaders met with our Principal Ms Coady earlier this year to request improved access to drinking water around the school. We are excited to announce that three brand-new water fountains have now been installed across our campus.

Each fountain features a beautiful Indigenous design, adding a meaningful visual element to our school environment. One of the fountains is even refrigerated, offering chilled water—perfect for hot days.

These new additions ensure that students have easy access to fresh drinking water throughout the school, supporting wellbeing and promoting healthy habits.

Thank you to our SRC for advocating on behalf of students and helping bring this improvement to life.

Learning 4 Life: year 10 students build confidence through personal safety workshop

As part of their Adulting unit, our year 10 Learning 4 Life students recently explored the topic of personal safety through a dynamic and hands-on workshop.

Led by Josh from Christopher’s Taekwondo Academy, the session focused on practical self-defense strategies to help students feel more confident and prepared in unexpected situations. The workshop was highly engaging, with students showing enthusiasm and a strong sense of empowerment as they learned valuable techniques to keep themselves safe.

A big thank you to Josh for delivering such an interactive and confidence-building experience. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to develop real-world skills in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Supporting young people through anxiety

Anxiety is a normal part of growing up, helping young people face new challenges and transitions. But for many children and teens today, it can become overwhelming and disruptive. Academic pressures, social expectations, family dynamics and constant digital media exposure all play a role in increasing stress levels.

When anxiety goes unnoticed or unsupported, it can affect a young person’s wellbeing, learning, relationships and confidence.

That is why it is important for parents and carers to understand how anxiety may show up in their children—and to know that every child experiences it differently.

With awareness and the right support, families can help young people develop lifelong skills to manage anxiety, build resilience and foster emotional wellbeing.

You can read the full article on our SchoolTV webpage, by clicking here

Wear It Purple Day at Aberfoyle Park High School

On Thursday 28 August, Aberfoyle Park High School proudly celebrated Wear It Purple Day, a national event dedicated to promoting visibility, inclusion and support for LGBTQIA+ young people.

Our Student Representative Council (SRC) organised a vibrant array of activities for students to enjoy, including mindful colouring-in, fake tattoos, rock painting and face painting.

Free giveaways such as badges, stickers, and wristbands added to the festive atmosphere and helped spread the message of acceptance and pride.

We were also excited to welcome the Onkaparinga Youth team, who brought along their badge-making machine and extra activities, sparking plenty of excitement and creativity among students.

The event was a resounding success, thanks to the dedication of our SRC students and the enthusiastic participation of the entire school community.

Boxing Brothers - boxing program

This term, Aberfoyle Park High School was excited to welcome Chris and Michael from Boxing Brothers Adelaide, who ran an engaging and energetic boxing program for our students.

Over the course of term 3, 25 students took part in sessions designed to build boxing skills, physical fitness, discipline and mental resilience.

Working closely with school staff, Chris and Michael brought their passion and expertise to every session. A special shout-out goes to mentor Kai, whose years of training and generous guidance helped motivate and inspire younger students. His leadership was a key part of the program’s success.

We were also proud to have Isaac, a talented year 8 student and dedicated boxer, assist with demonstrations and support his peers throughout the program. His involvement gave students a real-world insight into the sport and encouraged many to push themselves further.

But this program was about more than just boxing—it was a full-body fitness experience. Students improved their strength, stamina, coordination, and confidence while having a great time. Whether it was mastering footwork, throwing combinations, or smashing out fitness circuits, every participant gave it their all.

Student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many reporting increased confidence, improved fitness and a real sense of achievement.

A huge thank you to Chris, Michael, Matt Peters and Nigel Lockyer for making this program such a success. We are already looking forward to what next year will bring.

Student Leadership Opportunity – Student Representative Council

applications for 2026 are now open

Aberfoyle Park High School would like to announce that applications for the 2026 Student Representative Council (SRC) are now open to students in years 7 to 11.

This is a fantastic opportunity for students to step into leadership roles, represent their peers, and contribute to positive change within our school community. SRC members develop valuable skills in public speaking, teamwork and leadership, while helping to make our school an even better place to learn and grow.

We are looking for students who are enthusiastic, committed and ready to be role models.

SRC members are expected to attend 3 to 4 meetings per term, support whole-school events, and act as ambassadors at key occasions.

Applications close Friday 26 September. The newly selected SRC team will begin their role in term 4 of this year.

To apply, complete the online form: Aberfoyle Park High School Student Representative Council Application – Google Forms

If you have any questions, please speak with Ms Hannaford, Mr Peat or Matt Peters.

Aberfoyle Park High School Newsletter

Respect | Care and Compassion | Honesty

Issue 6 · 25 Sep 2025

In this issue