School of Leadership

Welcome Back to Term 4!

With numerous events scheduled for Term 4, it promises to be a jam-packed and exciting final quarter of the year, full of enriching learning experiences and opportunities for students to hopefully make the most of. In light of this, parents are reminded of the importance of regularly checking the College Google calendar this term, in conjunction with the notifications highlighted through Compass notifications, email, Parent Need to Knows and our various social media accounts as the final nine weeks of the school year are sure to be an incredibly busy yet rewarding period of time for our SOL students..

I would like to remind all students of a famous quote regularly used by American author, Jim George, who emphasises the importance of finishing the year off on the right note:

“You are not remembered for how you start the year; instead it is for how you finish it.”

As a cohort, our School of Leadership students have enjoyed an excellent year thus far and all students are strongly encouraged to continue working hard and to remain focused in class for the final stretch of the 2023 school year.

Our staff are very much looking forward to seeing the way in which students continue to challenge themselves to reach their full potential and demonstrate their best effort both within and outside of the classroom, as each student hopefully continues to flourish in all aspects of their education in the School of Leadership

Connect 7 and Year 7 Orientation Day

Our Connect 7 program will be run over three Fridays meaning that there will be NO Half Day Friday days available to Year 6 students until Friday 8th of December. The program will run over three Fridays from 1pm to 2:30pm and provide students with an experience of Year 7 English, Mathematics, HSIE, CAPA (Visual Arts), PDHPE and Science.

Please note that Year 7 Orientation Day will also be held on Friday 1st December. There will be no Friday Half Day on this date as Year 6 students will be required to be present at school for the entire day.

Connect 7 Dates: Friday 3rd November

Friday 10th November

Friday 24th November

Year 7 Orientation Day Friday 1st December

Yr 6 Thanksgiving Liturgy and Parent Morning Tea

Mrs Kate Kelly - Head of School, School of Leadership

A Note from The SOL Assistant Principal

Term 4 has been an exciting time with our Rubik’s Cube Competition kicking off this week. We have seen some speedy cubers with cubes getting solved in 42 seconds! It has been wonderful to see so many students in SOL coming to support, help facilitate and participate in the competition. This competition will continue next week and conclude with the top ten fastest cubers competing in a final.

The SOL Basketball competition will recommence in Week 5. We have been eagerly awaiting this competition to start again since the Basketball Courts have been out of action due to the HSC exams in the Hall.

We have also launched our Peer Companions expressions of interest form for 2024. This is an exciting opportunity for students in our current Year 7 group to serve as peer support leaders in assisting Year 5 students transition into the School of Leadership. The form can be access here if you have missed it (as well as a letter detailing this leadership opportunity).

We have had some changes to our afternoon dismissal processes since the opening of our SOE building and new Bus Bay area. Students waiting for buses need to do so in the bus bay area. All bikes and scooters need to be stored in the bike racks. If all parents and students can use the pedestrian crossings to avoid an accident. Thank you for your support with this.

BUS BAY

BIKE RACKS

EXIT GATE FOR MOST SOL/E students (located between Gates 5 and 6 on Northborne Ave)

Year 7 SIM Showcase

The Year 7 SIM Showcase will be taking place on Tuesday 14th November from 2:30- 4:30 pm in the Hub. This is a compulsory College event for Year 7 students. A letter inviting parents to this event can be located here. Please RSVP your attendance in the link below.

RSVP here.

Mrs Josephine Camilleri - Assistant Principal, School of Leadership

Stage 3 Stories…

In R3 this year, an ongoing focus has been placed on broadening the reading interests of our students in order to further their level of confidence and foster a love of reading. Students have been encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and engage with texts that are increasingly complex, introducing them to genres that were previously outside their sphere of interest. To support students in this last term, a book tasting was organised where a wide range of carefully selected texts were chosen based on topics of student interest and placed out for students to view.

“I like that we get to look at books about things we like and different books that are interesting. It has helped me to read more fluently and enjoy reading”

- Rudra, Stage 3 student

As part of this experience, students were given 3 minutes to “skim and scan” a book of their choice, and then answer follow up questions to help them reflect on what made this book stand out to them. Students completed this process a total of three times, and from there, narrowed their choices down to the best of three to read for the holidays. The students were so excited about their final choices and got straight into reading them in The Hub!

“Book tastings help me to choose the right book for me. It is an entertaining way to find some books I haven’t really seen before like fantasy, horror, mystery, comedy and drama” - Balaruban, Stage 3 student

“I like how we look at different books and we get to look for features we don’t really know like a dinkus which tells you that time is passing” - Jake, Stage 3 student

“I think book tasting is a good opportunity to discover more books and it helps me find books that I could be interested in or books that could challenge me in some kind of way. It is another opportunity to read more to improve my reading and how I go at school” - Sarah, Stage 3 student

We have witnessed significant growth in the reading confidence and capabilities of our R3 students, and continue to look for opportunities to expand their reading repertoires!

PDHPE

To launch our PDH unit of work, students formed teams and played a game of handball. Throughout this process, they stopped and recorded reflections that linked to inclusion and feelings throughout the friendly games.

On our return to class, we were able to discuss these and students were asked to respond to the question, “do you think emotions cause behaviour?” Lively conversations were had between students and then as a whole class group. One student even asked another, “Well, what came first? The chicken or the egg?” Clearly, students are engaged!

Throughout this unit, students will continue to engage in hands-on activities so they can build and compile a toolbox of strategies to practise positive behaviours. They will be learning to enhance relationships, learn strategies to deal with conflict and/or bullying, and implement actions to maintain and improve the quality of their mental health.

Become Me

We are excited to introduce the "Become Me" program for our Stage 3 students of 2023. This initiative allows them to investigate various professions and their requirements, gaining insights into the world of work. As a part of this process, students have the opportunity to contact professionals in their chosen field of work to assist with their research. With such a broad range of career choices sparking interest across the stage, we need your help to connect our students with professionals in fields such as anaesthesiology, animation, astronautics, professional sports (cricket, basketball, netball, swimming, dirt bike racing), biology, clinical laboratory management, cosmetology, dermatology, medicine, fashion design, food analysis, forensic pathology, game development, professional gaming, geography, illustration, interior design, law, martial arts instruction, loss prevention, orthoptics, production, dance, puppetry, video game reviewing, and surgery (cardiac, plastic, orthopaedic), translation, travel, and veterinary care. Your participation can make a significant impact on our students' learning journey. Please reach out to the stage 3 parent emails if you or someone you know can assist in helping our stage 3 students investigate the world of work with enthusiasm!

Religious Education

The students in Freeman have been exploring the new areas opened at St Luke’s to identify where they can best see God. Students sat and thought deeply about how they may see God in his many forms while quietly reflecting on themselves within different spaces and places. Some students sketched while others wrote about how the temperature, wind and creations of God (including their peers) influenced how they thought and felt in their time at St Lukes. We look forward to exploring and using these spaces more through Term 4 and beyond.

English

The Pillar focus for writing in Stage 3 is the Create Pillar. Students are learning about the different styles, structures and language features of poetry. They have created ‘Bio Poems’ and are moving into Haiku poetry this week. The most challenging aspect is learning how to use language sparingly while creating a poem that contains rhythm, rhyme and manages to engage an audience! This is a very demanding set of skills.

Poetry is a fabulous way for students to learn about the world around them and to appreciate different perspectives. It helps readers to identify imagery and appreciate its value, so that as writers, they have a better understanding of the power of language. Further to this, poetry provides unlimited opportunities for writers to think ‘out of the box’ and to give themselves licence to try new ideas. So, whilst it can be challenging to comprehend and create, it can be a lot of fun trying!

Here are some examples of our poetry.

The Canvas

She is a canvas

A masterpiece of flaws

Always ready for opportunity

A breath of fresh air,

Like something you have never seen before.

She is Marvellous.

Anne

Funny, happy, chill and helpful

The daughter of Anoop, Anu and the older sister of Eva Paul

My likes are friends, family, art and more

Sadness and joy, are feelings I happily endure

Fake friends and being hurt are my fears

A recent award for placing in the school Spelling Bee

True happiness and learning from mistakes I seek

I live in Marsden Park,

Anne

From Year 7…

Mathematics

As we begin Term 4 and come to the end of their first Year in Secondary, Year 7 were asked to reflect upon their journey in Mathematics this year.

1. What has been your favourite unit of Maths so far this year?

“I thought that Financial Maths was very engaging as it was an opportunity for year 7’s to enhance their past learning from primary school. That is what I enjoyed most, the thrilling challenge of figuring something new out. ” - Dyuti S

2. How does your favourite unit relate to your life outside of school?

“Although Financial maths was tough, I still managed and found it interesting. GST can be really helpful to me in the future as we can use it in our daily lives.” - Hermita G

3. How do you stay on top of your Maths flipped learning and consolidation?

Technologies

Students in year 7 are currently in the middle of a new rotation of technologies, either creating a robotics, jewellery or dragster project. Currently students are in the design phase of their project, exploring ideas and possibilities so that they can refine their final design that they will create by the end of the year.

Music

In Term 4, Year 7 music students will continue to build foundational skills in music composition. This includes an exposure to a collection of songwriting softwares such as bandlab, garageband and musescore. Students will build their knowledge of understanding in basic songwriting techniques and fuse their knowledge of music notation and production skills to create a series of musical works. Last term, students focussed on the fundamentals of music performance and listening skills. This included performing a piece of music on the piano and revising content regarding note values and basic drumming rudiments.

Art

Term 4 is full of excitement as we have moved into our brand new art rooms and are keen to get familiar with and start creating in our new space. This term year 7 will be delving into portraiture, combining variations of hatching tonal techniques and text to create a likeness of their chosen celebrity or idol.

Last term, students explored the concept of representing personal key events and interests in the form of skateboard deck graphics. Several signs and symbols were selected after a process to determine the best ways to communicate their ideas visually, while achieving balance, harmony and unity in their design layout. Students picked up skills in transferring designs, colour theory and analysing artworks using the frames and conceptual framework in visual arts.

From Year 8…

Science

Our new Science Labs are open, and our students are taking full advantage of the amazing new Science spaces! This is an exciting opportunity for our students, as it is not everyday that students get to use a brand new labs. There has been a buzz in our Science labs, which are still in the process of being named after prominent and inspiring Scientists. Have a look at our new Science Lab’s below:

Life Design

This term has started with students exploring their SIM in a creative manner using the “bookshelf”. This activity allows students to choose 1 -2 different ways to display their Strengths, Interests & Motivations through ways such as:

design a zoo with specialist animals that represent your SIM components,
create a vehicle design (think cars, rockets, planes & motorbikes) that highlights the key parts of your SIM
a travel itinerary with destinations/adventures that align with your SIM.
Drawing your SIM - characters, landscapes, objects etc

Students have launched into this creative approach to learning and will present to peers in class during week 3. The skills in presenting will be valuable practice for their upcoming Capstone Presentations in week 10.

Music

Year 8 Music students are continuing to build on their foundational skills covering the concepts of music with a focus on Rock Music in term 4. Students have enjoyed performing, composing and listening activities on a variety of online music software as well as instruments such as keyboard, guitar and drums. In term 4, students will create a 12 bar blues composition and learn the skills to play in ensembles. Students are continuing to build their understanding through practice in this hands on, fun and practical subject.

Wellbeing in the School of Leadership

Peer Companions

Peer Companions will continue with the module, Moving Forward which focuses on resilience.The experiences in the module help children to identify their qualities and strengths, develop skills, respond with a range of strategies and seek support when faced with challenges. In this session, the children will establish connections with the other members of their group and develop their group agreement to enable them to work well together.The children will discuss an example of a challenging situation and some resilient and non resilient responses. You might like to discuss with your child what they can do to help them take an active role in Peer Support.

What can parents do to promote resilience?

“Children should see mistakes as a basis for learning - too much protection from disappointment and failure may not give children the chance to learn how to deal with their mistakes or difficult situations”. Parenting SA

model resilient behaviours when facing challenges
remind children of appropriate ways help manage feelings
praise accomplishments, particularly those which have required perseverance
continue to help children learn to recognise and name their feelings as well as those of others
continue to help children become increasingly aware of their temperament as well as the those of others in their life
gradually expose children to adversities or prepare them by talking, reading books and identifying and discussing resilience factors which may be helpful
encourage children to demonstrate empathy, to be pleasant and do kind things for others encourage children to use communication and problem solving skills to resolve interpersonal problems or to seek help with them
communicate with children, discussing, sharing and reporting on the days’ events, ideas, observations and feelings
help children begin to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and to understand their actions have consequences
provide opportunities for children to set goals, make decisions, show initiative and take responsibility both independently and with support
establish family rituals to celebrate events and daily routines
help children feel more secure by showing them they are loved, wanted and that they belong ensure children are getting enough sleep
encourage regular physical activity they enjoy
encourage time spent outdoors to clear the mind
ask for their opinion so they have practise at communicating their view

Year 7 and 8 Wellbeing Wednesday - Leadership and Teamwork

The next few weeks, Year 7 and 8 will be centering their attention to the topic ‘Leadership and Teamwork’, which sits under the domain of Positive Relationships. Using the strength of leadership, and the skills of communication and collaboration, are key to working well in a team. Leadership is about making things happen and supporting others to be their best. This involves being organised and committed, setting team goals, delegating tasks, encouraging others, and working hard for the success of the team. Strong leaders have a positive attitude, are compassionate and good listeners, set a good example, and inspire others. They are well respected and valued by the team. A group of effective team members are good at helping, sharing and taking turns, and are loyal to the team.

Research shows that we are stronger when we are in teams. When we are working with others to meet a common purpose, we are able to achieve much more than our individual work combined.

Building a marshmallow and spaghetti tower may seem like a simple, fun activity, but it carries valuable lessons in leadership and teamwork that are essential for our students' personal and academic growth. As students collaborate to construct a stable tower using these seemingly incompatible materials, they learn to communicate effectively, share ideas, and work together towards a common goal. Leadership skills emerge as individuals step up to guide the team, delegate tasks, and motivate their peers to stay on track. The tower-building challenge showcases the importance of clear direction and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, helping students understand that leadership is not just about giving orders but also about inspiring and facilitating a group's success. This hands-on activity fosters a sense of unity and highlights the power of teamwork, teaching our students that when they combine their diverse skills and perspectives, they can achieve remarkable results together.

Try this at home: Ask your children to list as many famous sportspeople as possible who are good leaders and good team players, giving reasons why. What makes them stand out? How do they act and react differently to others? Does good leadership always mean good teamwork and vice versa?

WHAT DOES LACK OF SLEEP DO TO THE BODY AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT STUDY?

We all know how important sleep is, and most of us know that because we aren’t getting as much of it as we would like – or at least in the quality we would prefer.

Lack of sleep, especially on a chronic basis, can have significant negative effects on both the body and the academic performance of students. Here are some key impacts of sleep deprivation:

Impaired Cognitive Function: Sleep deprivation can impair various cognitive functions, including attention, concentration and memory. Students may have difficulty focusing during lectures or while studying, experience reduced alertness, and struggle to retain and recall information accurately.
Reduced Learning Abilities: Inadequate sleep hampers learning abilities and academic performance. The ability to process and integrate new information is compromised, making it harder for students to grasp complex concepts and perform well on tests or exams.
Poor Problem-Solving Skills: Lack of sleep can hinder critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students may find it challenging to analyse and solve problems effectively, impacting their problem-solving abilities across different subjects.
Decreased Creativity and Innovation: Sleep deprivation can diminish creativity and innovation. It impairs the brain's ability to make novel connections and think creatively, limiting students’ ability to generate new ideas or approaches to assignments or projects.
Emotional Instability and Mood Disturbances: Sleep deprivation often leads to emotional instability, irritability and mood disturbances. Students may experience increased stress, anxiety and frustration, affecting their overall emotional well-being and interpersonal relationships.
Physical Health Issues: Chronic sleep deprivation can contribute to various physical health problems, including weakened immune function, increased susceptibility to illnesses and a higher risk of developing chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Impaired Motor Skills and Safety: Lack of sleep negatively impacts motor skills, coordination and reaction times. This can be particularly dangerous for students who drive or participate in activities that require physical coordination, such as sport or laboratory experiments.
Social and Behavioural Issues: Sleep-deprived students may exhibit behavioural issues, such as hyperactivity, impulsivity and difficulty regulating their emotions. They may also have difficulty socialising and maintaining healthy relationships with peers due to mood swings and irritability.

To promote healthy sleep habits and mitigate the effects of sleep deprivation, it is important for students (and all of us) to prioritise regular and sufficient sleep. Establishing consistent sleep schedules, creating a conducive sleep environment, practising relaxation techniques before bed and avoiding stimulants like caffeine in the evening can help improve sleep quality and support academic success.