Wellbeing
Updated House Leaderboard after Term 2
Dear Parents and Carers of Year 7 students,
As part of our commitment to student health and wellbeing, your child will soon be participating in the OurFutures Vaping Prevention Program during an upcoming class.
Why this program?
Vaping is one of the fastest-growing public health challenges for Australian adolescents. Many young people hold misconceptions that e-cigarettes are safe, when in reality, they contain nicotine and harmful toxins that can impact the developing brain.
OurFutures Institute is a leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of young Australians through evidence-based, prevention education programs. OurFutures Institute is leading the national-roll out of Australia’s first evidence-based vaping prevention program with leading researchers at The Matilda Centre at the University of Sydney. The program is designed to empower students with the facts and refusal skills they need to stay vape-free.
What the program covers
The program consists of four interactive lessons. It uses a "social influence" approach, meeting students where they are through age-appropriate, relatable cartoon storylines. Key areas include:
● Evidence-based facts about the chemicals in e-cigarettes and their health impacts.
● Normative education to correct the belief that "everyone is doing it".
● Refusal skills development to help students confidently handle peer pressure and social situations.
● Critical thinking regarding media and marketing influences.
When will the students attempt the program
The program will run on the following days during session 5:21st August, 24th August, 18th September and 22nd September
Proven results
The OurFutures Institute model is the "gold standard" for health prevention education in Australia. Results from a landmark clinical trial involving over 5,000 Australian students found:
● Students who completed the program were 65% less likely to vape one year later compared to those who received standard health education.
● Participating students showed significantly stronger knowledge of vaping risks and improved refusal skills.
Your role as a parent
Research shows that when parents have open, non-judgemental conversations about substance use, their children are less likely to engage in risky behaviors. We encourage you to ask your child about what they are learning in the OurFutures program. Guides and tips on how to talk to your child can be found in the below:
● Vaping conversation guide for parents and carers - Federal Department of Health
● Vaping conversation guide for parents - VicHealth
● Practical tips on talking to a teen about vaping - Quit Australia
The program is currently fully funded by the Australian Government to ensure all Year 7 and 8 students have access to this vital education.
For more information you can visit the OurFutures Institute website at ourfuturesinstitute.org.au.
We look forward to working together to support your child's healthy future.
Sincerely,
Mr Chris Bettiol
Leader of Wellbeing, Growth and Development
St Lukes Catholic College
Peer Companions Supporting Year 5 Students
This term, our Peer Companions Program has continued to thrive, bringing together our enthusiastic Year 8 leaders and Year 5 students every three weeks for meaningful and engaging sessions. The focus this term has been on developing healthy friendships and understanding what it truly means to be a good friend.
Through thoughtful discussions and well-prepared activities, our Year 8 peer leaders have supported the younger students in building valuable social skills. The sessions explored key elements of friendship such as kindness, empathy, trust, and respectful communication.
We are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and passionate group of peer companions. Their preparation, creativity, and commitment are evident in every session. Their efforts not only help our Year 5 students feel supported and included but also foster a stronger, more connected school community.
We commend our Year 8 leaders for the fantastic work they continue to do and look forward to seeing the positive impact of the Peer Companions Program grow even further in the weeks ahead.
🌍⚽ World Cup excitement is in the air! ⚽🌍
Today, our House Leaders did a fantastic job organising a World Cup Trivia competition at recess as we build excitement for the big game tomorrow.
Students had a great time testing their World Cup knowledge, earning house points and getting into the spirit of the tournament. The winning students, house points and prizes were proudly announced at lunch.
Congratulations to all of our trivia winners, and a special congratulations to Teresa House for finishing as the house with the most points! 🏆
A big thank you to our House Leaders for bringing energy, fun and school spirit to the day. Bring on the big game tomorrow! 🇦🇺⚽
Green and Gold Hour: Celebrating Belonging, Inclusion and Respect
On Friday, our school community came together for a special Green and Gold Hour as part of the excitement surrounding the upcoming World Cup match. Students and staff proudly embraced the spirit of the occasion by wearing green and gold and taking part in activities that celebrated what it means to belong, participate and support one another respectfully.
The purpose of the Green and Gold Hour was about more than just sport. It was an opportunity to highlight the important values that connect us as a school community, including belonging, inclusion, teamwork, respect and positive support. Through shared activities, students reflected on how sport can bring people together, create a sense of pride and encourage everyone to feel part of something bigger.
During the session, students participated in a range of activities including creative poster-making and discussions about respectful support and positive crowd behaviour. Some students also enjoyed watching the match build-up, while others engaged with the inspiring Australian film Paper Planes, which connects strongly to themes of perseverance, identity, inclusion and achieving your personal best.
The Green and Gold Hour was a wonderful reminder that sport has the power to unite people. It gave students the chance to celebrate national pride while also reflecting on the values that matter most in our school community: being inclusive, showing respect and making everyone feel welcome.
Thank you to all staff and students who contributed to making the Green and Gold Hour such a positive and memorable experience.
Sports Club
My club is about learning all different sports. I have 5 helpers Norah, James, Poppy, Mackenzie and myself Sienna. We split them up into three age groups Year 2, Year 1 and Kindergarten. The purpose of the Sport club is to teach them how to be happy and have fun with their friends whilst playing sport. The first week was great. Kindergarten did all different soccer drills. Year 1 and 2 played Dodge ball. They all tried their best. They had great sportsmanship and all were good at everything. Lots of people who showed up were amazing and they had fun.
I will email photos on Wednesday.
From Sienna Bidois
Creative arts club
What is it and what is it about?
It’s a creative arts club that is held for k-2 at lunchtime.The creative arts club is a club that involves lots of different things related to art. There are lots of colouring sheets and more that the children can use to be creative and explore different art.
This club is all about drawing,colouring,sketching and trying something new.
What’s the purpose of our club?
The purpose of this club is to let the kids have fun and do arts, but also let them have something to do at lunchtime. It’s a place where they can make new friends and try something new!
How it went?
For the first art club they all sat down and we talked about what you could do and the artist challenge. The first art club went smoothly,it wasn’t too overwhelming for them or us and they were very settled. They had a very good time.
We had an artist challenge which is a challenge where we draw a picture of something eg: an ice cream and they had to copy it in their own style. We had prizes for the most creative drawing in the room.
We look forward to next weeks class and hope they enjoy it.
By Angelina Cassar (Other art teachers involved) Lacey B Tahlia F Aria D
| Cyber Safe Parents: Balancing Live & Technology (Screen Time) |
| Following the overwhelming response to last year's parent cyber safety webinar, Catholic Network Australia is pleased to once again partner with the Cyber Safety Project to deliver this free online session for parents and carers across Australia. |
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Term 3 2026 eSafety Webinars for Parents/Carers
Dear Parents/Carers
At Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) we value parents and carers as partners in your child's learning journey. In partnership with the Commonwealth eSafety Commissioner, CSPD would like to invite you to join the following free webinars for parents and carers:
- Recognising online coercive control in young people's lives
- Understanding AI Companions: What parents and carers need to know
- AI-assisted image-based abuse: Navigating the deepfake threat
- The changing face of cyberbullying: Protecting your child in 2025
- Understanding and using parental controls to help protect your child online
- Sexual extortion: What parents and carers need to know
- Exploring the online experiences of boys and young men
About the webinars
The trust trap: navigating friendships, pressure and manipulation online
Available Sessions:
Children and young people experience subtle forms of online manipulation that can shape their friendships, identity and wellbeing. Behaviours like exclusion, controlling dynamics, and emotionally loaded 'just joking' interactions are common and may be difficult to spot. This webinar unpacks online manipulative behaviours and harmful friendships dynamics. What you need to do Please register for the course on the secondary site via the following link: Register here
| Influencers, ideology and impact: how algorithms influence and reinforce harmful beliefs
Available sessions:
This webinar explores both the benefits and risks of recommender algorithms and offers practical strategies to help parents and carers to support young people build more positive and safer online feeds.
What you need to do Please register for the course on the secondary site via the following link: Register here
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Exploring the online experiences of boys and young men
Available Sessions:
For boys and young men, the internet can be a place where they seek connection, validation and guidance as they explore what it means to be a man today. However, it also exposes them to risks like harmful content, online exploitation and the growing influence of misogynistic ideologies.. What you need to do Please register for the course on the secondary site via the following link: Register here | The changing face of cyberbullying: protecting your child in 2026
Available Sessions:
This essential webinar for parents and carers unpacks how online harm is evolving, from the use of AI-powered tactics to coded emoji language and the covert manipulation that many adults may miss in cyberbullying situations. What you need to do Please register for the course on the secondary site via the following link: Register here |
Navigating screen time: tools for today’s families
Available Sessions:
The webinar offers realistic and practical approaches to strengthen digital skills, encourage open conversations, and make screen time more positive and predictable for the whole family. Suitable for parents and carers of young people in primary and lower secondary school..
What you need to do Please register for the course on the secondary site via the following link: Register here | How connection and belonging shapes children and young people’s vulnerability online
Available Sessions:
Connection, identity and belonging are powerful drivers for young people online, but they can also increase vulnerability.
What you need to do Please register for the course on the secondary site via the following link: Register here |
AI-generated images and videos: navigating the deepfake threat
Available Sessions:
Tools using AI are evolving fast and young people are often the first to explore and adopt them. But with this rapid change comes real risks. AI tools that generate fake images and videos are now being misused in ways that can harm or exploit children and young people.
What you need to do Please register for the course on the secondary site via the following link: Register here |
Active Leaders
