Wellbeing News

Hats are back!

All students were reminded at our assembly on Wednesday that hats are to be worn at recess and lunch breaks when in the sun from 1 August. The school is proud to be a SunSmart school and the wearing of hats in Terms 1, 3 (from 1 August) and 4 is a critical component to this commitment. 

It is important our students are aware that it is the ultraviolet (UV) radiation (a type of energy produced by the sun and some artificial sources, such as solariums) that causes damage to our skin and is the main cause of skin cancer. UV radiation isn’t like the sun’s light or heat, which we can see and feel. Your senses cannot detect UV radiation, so we often won’t notice the damage until it has been done. Because it is so difficult to notice, it can also become difficult for students to understand why they need to wear hats at this time of year. The World Health Organisation's Global Solar UV Index measures UV levels on a scale from 0 (Low) to 11+ (Extreme). Sun protection is recommended when UV levels are 3 (Moderate) or higher. The UV level is affected by a number of factors including the time of day, time of year, cloud cover, altitude, how close you are to the equator, scattering and reflection.

In our environment, the sun protection times start to develop from 1 August to periods through the middle of the day. These times are normally recess and lunch break times at school (and lesson times for outdoor activities such as PE). You can find the sun protection times for your location on the free SunSmart app, on the SunSmart widget or at the Bureau of Meteorology website. The school also has the SunSmart data available on SEQTA. We encourage all students to develop a routine of applying sunscreen to exposed skin each morning before they leave for school as UV levels increase. Time outside playing with friends and participating in activity is a wonderful component of everyday life for all our students, it is just important they are protected from the UV radiation while they are enjoying themselves.

Mr Brett Knowles

Assistant Deputy Principal - Wellbeing (7-12)