Middle Years: Organisation, Wellbeing,  Clubs and More!

Organisation 

At the beginning of another (happy) semester, it is timely for students to note what they have and what they may need for their classes. Students have been provided a list of ‘daily organisational routines’ which have been commended to them as valuable strategies for improving and cementing good organisational habits. I cannot overstate how important good organisation skills are to academic and personal success, in my experience as a long-time pastoral teacher. Good organisational skills encourage independence, efficiency and self-confidence.  

Parents have an important role, too, in supporting the development of their child’s organisational skills. To help, parents might: 

• Use a family calendar to record important commitments to model good planning and organisational strategies
• Share successful strategies from your own experience at work or study
• Support your daughter in finding a diary that works for her. The school’s preference is the school diary, of course
• Encourage your daughter to review her diary and calendars daily to anticipate new events
• Sit down with your daughter and support her in prioritising homework tasks from most to least pressing based due dates, difficulty level or the level of stress they have about the tasks
• Encourage your daughter to list the steps needed to complete long-term projects or review task instructions together for complex assignments; and 
• Encourage your daughter to liaise with teachers where support is needed. 

Homework 

I am often asked about the role of parents in supporting homework. Much of the advice above is relevant when considering parental support for homework. The important thing is that you do not complete the work for your child! Instead, offer prompts to begin tasks or move on to something else if necessary, and encourage your child to speak with their teacher if they are experiencing difficulties. This kind of feedback is really valuable for the class teacher, too, helping them better understand your daughter’s needs. Some more advice is available via this link: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/help-teen-homework.html  

Wellbeing Program Update 

This Term’s wellbeing program is a very full program for Year 7 and 8. Year 7 students are looking forward to a number of guest speakers this term. We will welcome facilitators from Toolbox Education to talk to Year 7 students about emotional awareness and regulation. These are valuable workshops to build students self-awareness and capacity for self-management. Later in the Term, Year 7 students will meet with Nikki from the Butterfly Foundation, talking about body positivity and positive social media influences. Year 7 students will begin the SpeakUp Program, developing conversational and relational skills, and will engage in some creative mini-projects on gratitude and safe schools and communities. 

The Year 8 Wellbeing Program is focused on the delivery of the Thrive Program. The Thrive Program aims to promote positive mental health and wellbeing and build the understanding, capacity and confidence of students within the context of the Year 8 community at Shelford Girls’ Grammar. The program includes topics relevant to mental health literacy including the recognition of signs and symptoms of selected mental illnesses and the promotion of healthy habits that foster positive mental health. The program will include advice about where students can seek help if needed, and help students to develop positive coping strategies for mitigating their stress as appropriate. 

An important context for this program is the Year 8 community itself. Via a safe, positive and supportive environment, the program seeks to encourage meaningful relationships based on mutual respect and a recognition of the perspectives and experiences of others. This will assist students in their social and emotional development. The program also seeks to encourage further partnerships between the school’s wellbeing staff, school psychologists and guest speakers and facilitators who can offer timely and contemporary advice to support students’ development and understanding. 

And, Year 8 students are looking forward to travelling to Sandringham Beach to kayak for the final of the three Strive Program outdoor activities. 

Clubs and Activities for Term 3 

Many new and existing clubs and activities are available for students to join this Term. Here is a list of the clubs and activities available for Term 3: 

I have encouraged all students in Year 7 and 8 to seek involvement in at least one club or activity, perhaps in addition to GSV. There are some entry requirements for certain groups but all of the above are open to students in Years 7 and 8. There are enormous benefits from such involvement: not only do students learn new skills and understanding, they have opportunity to engage socially with others who share their interests and such clubs and activities provide an valuable mechanism for students to pursue their passions, a core value of our school community. I note, however, that this list does not include the many and varied high-quality musical ensembles and bands that operate throughout the school. 

Subject Selection for 2024 

Over the next few weeks, Year 7 and 8 students will begin the process of subject selection for 2024. This is an exciting time for students as they begin to craft their pathways through the senior school, pursuing their passions and interests and crafting their academic program. More information is available via Shelly. 

Sporting Achievement 

Congratulations to Ruby B from Y8 who was awarded the Best and Fairest trophy for the Sandringham U15 netball representative team. This award is fitting tribute to Ruby’s leadership this season and testament to her admirable character. 

Tristan Hill

Middle Years 7/8 Coordinator