Student Wellness

Flourish Girl

Lily Veale, Year 10

Ridgeway Campus

The Flourish Girl program was an excellent opportunity for the girls of Year 10 to explore their sense of self and to think on how our school, extracurricular and social life is travelling. The day was well-organised and structured with sessions of conversation and reflection, broken up with fun activities to keep the day light-hearted. Some of the games and activities that we did together were musical chairs, origami making, and dancing. This was a brilliant way of maintaining engagement, and it allowed everyone to have fun with people they don’t usually hang around with. I highly enjoyed interacting with the coordinators and having discussions with girls I wouldn’t normally talk with daily. These new bonds that Flourish Girl encouraged have motivated me and many others to make an effort with other girls in the grade, and to always look toward new friendships and opportunities to converse.

Throughout the duration of the incursion, we girls were given many strategies to manage our mental and physical health, stress levels and social life. These techniques of thriving in and out of school were really valuable, and all of the girls felt that they benefited from the session. Implementing these strategies in our everyday lives will assist in maintaining our health and wellbeing as we finish off our term in Year 10. Overall, Flourish Girl was an excellent experience that allowed us to have a break in the school week and interact with our peers. We were all able to have valuable conversations with each other to safely share our thoughts and feelings, which was a nice way to begin our week. Thank you to the Flourish coordinators who organised and carried out such a wonderful incursion for us, all of the girls appreciated the wisdom, advice, and attentiveness of the Flourish Girl leaders.  

Mancave

Jeremy Stevenson, Year 10

Ridgeway Campus 

The Man Cave program was a day of interactive activities and meaningful discussions designed to help participants explore emotions, relationships, and healthy communication. The day began with icebreaker games, including a reaction time game with a cone, which set a fun and engaging tone. Following this, participants were introduced to the program's core focus: understanding emotions and the importance of spending quality time with friends to strengthen relationships. Facilitators Paddy, Patty, and Xavier shared personal stories about challenges they faced growing up, creating a safe space for participants to reflect on their own experiences. 

In small groups, participants discussed the theme of relationships and learned about a long-term study starting in 1920, which found that the key to happiness for men was maintaining strong, healthy relationships. After recess, a favourite game involved racing to sit in the only spare seat in the room, adding a competitive yet enjoyable element to the day. The focus then shifted to the significance of healthy communication, emphasising how being ignored can be painful. Participants engaged in an exercise where they asked friends meaningful questions without expecting answers, fostering deeper connections. 

Another impactful activity involved three labelled chairs: the highlight, hardship, and hero chairs. Participants took turns sharing personal stories related to these themes, allowing for greater understanding and empathy among the group. After lunch, the day concluded with a lively music quiz game, followed by a reflection session.

Overall the day was a complete success. each participant thoroughly enjoyed the mancave experience. A deeper connection was fostered between everyone in the room. Everyone was extremely grateful for the day.  

Special thanks to Paddy Patty and Xavier for the wonderful day.