Our Community
A Virtual Hello
This video was made as a way for the current group of YLOT (Young Leaders of Tomorrow) students to make contact with students at the Southern Support School. This followed the Year 11 IB Creativity, Action & Service (CAS) Zoom workshop in May where Karen Franks (CEO YLOT) presented to our students about the origin of the programme and also some communication strategies used.
The students hope to be getting a video in return and also to collaborate in other ways before in-person visits become possible again.
Giving Tuesday
On Tuesday 19 May many of our students and community members participated in #GivingTuesday as part of National Volunteering Week. We encouraged all students and staff from Kindergarten to Year 12 to go "Above and Beyond" to do a little something extra to give back to their family, friends, community or the environment.
Crazy Socks 4 Docs
On the Friday 12 June, Morris – Friends’ Primary Years – wore funky, colourful and quirky socks to raise money and awareness for doctors and frontline workers. ‘Crazy socks 4 Docs’ day happens nationwide on the first Friday of June, however, the Morris campus decided to celebrate this day on the following Friday.
You can read the full article by Year 12 student, Holly Jennings, HERE.
Lads' Day
On Friday 26 June the Clemes campus celebrated the annual ‘Lads’ Day’ to raise money and awareness for the organisation ‘Speak Up! Stay ChatTY’. The usual Lads’ Day events from previous years were unable to go ahead due to Covid-19 restrictions, however, the Clemes Council still organised a fun day for everyone. It was a free dress day, with students dressing up as their role models, which included teachers, popular movie characters and celebrities. At lunchtime, there were games of Table Tennis played in the foyer alongside music and merchandise for sale. All activities on the day created a greater sense of community throughout Clemes which was a good opportunity for the group to come together after weeks of isolation.
Stay ChatTY is an organisation which aims to start the conversation around male mental health and prevent suicide. They want to reduce the stigma around mental illnesses and encourage people to seek help if they need it. Clemes students were also shown a video on the day from Mitch McPherson, founder of the charity, which discussed the importance of mental health awareness during current times. It was a timely reminder as students come back to school to check in on their health as well as the wellbeing of the friends and family around them.
Article by Holly Jennings (Year 12)
In-Step with the Community
It’s a terrible reality that many Fitness Leaders and Life Coaches encourage clients to ‘set some time aside for themselves’ or to ‘make some ‘me’ time’. The dichotomy of work/life balance loomed even larger with social and health restrictions in place during the Distance Learning period, and, determined to seize the day, 20 staff from across the School community signed up to participate in the Multiple Sclerosis Australia’s annual “May 50k” event.
Keen to set out on foot every day if I could, having suddenly gained an extra hour and a half 5 days out of 7, I keenly signed up for MSA’s “Kiss MS Goodbye campaign” and set about inviting colleagues to join me by ‘walking in community’ for a good cause. Hence, the ‘Friendly Walkers’ stepped forth. In addition, a small band of like-minded students took up the mantle with their ‘Happy Feet’ team.
Some joined because they were keenly aware that the prevalence of MS is higher in Tasmania than in other parts of Australia, or joined in honour of a relative or friend that either cared for someone with MS or were themselves living with the disease, and were inspired to help find a cure. Some were keen to improve their fitness, to take the opportunity to explore their neighbourhoods whilst they had the chance, or even to use the event to gradually return to running and prepare for future fundraising walking/running events.
Most participants met their 50km goal. A few made it well into the 70kms and a couple of determined individuals surpassed 100km. And we were hardly walking alone. Either one, or both of my children (bless their cotton socks) either walked, scootered, or learned to ride their bike without the training wheels on - although I had to admit, the walking was more of a scurrying trot in order to keep up with my small friend as she rode her bike. Those of us whose children accompanied were also grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate how we could take action as a family. Others regularly walked with friends.
Everyone reflected that they enjoyed the sense of community that we were all walking together. Participation certainly made us more aware of our community and our shared interests. It was great to be part of something bigger than our everyday lives, and contribute to a great cause. Most reflected that participating gave them a sense of accomplishment - especially in reaching the 50km goal and being able to surpass it - and they felt inspired to do more fundraising walking.
On a larger scale, The May 50K went better than MS Australia could have imagined. 433 workplaces like ours took part and helped raise a whopping $6.6 million for vital research. My gratitude to our community of Friendly Walkers for their efforts and mutual support.
Article by Karina Churchill
Jye Catches a Whopper!
Some of you may have seen the recent article in The Mercury about Year 9 student Jye Castle catching a 107 kg Southern Blue Fin Tuna while fishing at Maria Island.
Jye, who actually caught this big one on the Sunday (not the Monday!), is also a boarder in Walker House and had been trying for some time to catch a big one to share with his fellow boarders. Director of Walker House Matt Dixon was delighted when Jye proved his fishing prowess by sending him this photo directly.