Year 7 & 8 News

Camps

There are two free camps on offer this Term to all Year 7 and 8 students. As you read this newsletter the Year 8 students are at the Mill Valley Ranch Camp in Tynong North. Year 7’s will be heading to Sorrento from the 8th-12th of August. Permission is open on Compass for this camp and closes on Saturday the 23rd of July. If you require a printed consent form, please contact the general office and they will be able to print one for your child. 

School camp is a fantastic opportunity for children to develop new skills, friendships, and interests. However, for many kids (and their parents!) just the thought of sleeping away from home can provoke high anxiety. Some of the common worries about camp include: not being able to sleep properly; not liking the food camp; who they will be sharing a cabin with; not enjoying the activities camp or feeling homesick. Although these are understandable concerns, it is important to help kids feel more positive about camp and to overcome the fear of not enjoying camp. The benefits of school camp are numerous, here are my top five: 

1. Development of social skills 

2. Development of independence skills 

3. Development of decision-making skills

 4. Increased environmental awareness 

5. Learning new skills

What if your child is feeling anxious about camp? 

1. Preparation is the key to feeling less anxious. 

2. Pack together and make it fun. 

3. Give your child a special journal to take with them on camp 

4. Talk to your child’s teacher and share the concerns you have. The teacher will appreciate this extra information and most likely will keep a closer eye on your child.

Covid protocols whilst on camp: 

Please note, we recommend all students take a rapid antigen test before leaving for camp. Students will be provided with RAT tests the week before the camp to take home. Whilst on camp, if students are showing any symptoms of illness, we will have extra rapid antigen tests at camp and will facilitate any students who would like to self-test. If a student is unwell, or tests positive to Covid 19 we will contact the family and ask they come and be picked up from camp. 

Attendance

I would like to take this opportunity to promote attendance; going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education. Students learn new things at school every day. Attending and participating in school will help your child develop: important skills and knowledge to help them learn social and emotional skills such as good communication, resilience and team work. Children who attend school every day and complete Year 12 have: better health better job opportunities higher income across their lives. There is no safe number of days for missing school. Each day a student misses puts them behind. 

KPA

Across our college we have an attendance target of 95%. KPA (Kurnai Positive Acknowledgments) Year 7 and 8 students continue to lead the way across our campus with their record setting achievements of Positive Green Write ups. I would like to recognise that across Year 7 and 8 they continue to set positive chronical entry records and I ask that you continue to congratulate your learner every night when they receive a positive KPA from their teachers. 

Year 7 Coolamatong Camp

At the end of last term Year 7 student went to Camp Coolamatong, about three quarters of our year level, or nearly 80 students, boarded buses at made their way down to the peninsula. Photos show how wonderful it is to see student teams encouraging each other on the survival and ropes courses, lakeside search, with bush cooking and night activities to name a few. Several students braved the rock wall climb, some making it to the top, others rightfully proud of a couple of meters. Among other things, students will certainly remember the trip.