Year 8 Update

Building community and confidence 

As mentioned in the previous newsletter update, the Year 8 students continued their work on growth mindset by examining the importance of self-affirmations. It is easier to compliment someone else, but it is not always easy to compliment yourself. I encourage the Year 8 students to continue practising this. 

Last week, our first wellbeing activity focused on implementing ‘Circle Work’. But what is it? Firstly, Circles are very much embedded in Restorative Practices and work hand in hand with each other. 

Earlier this term I was lucky enough to go to a professional learning workshop run by Kristy Elliott who explained the benefits of learning and connecting through circle. It can be used to teach anything and promotes, stronger relationships, engagement, cooperation, resilience, emotional literacy, wellbeing, and a sense of belonging. 

The Principles of Circles are: 

• Having Fun: Fosters connection and positive emotions. 
• Equality & Democracy: Encourages participation and speaking. 
• Inclusion: Ensures everyone can participate. 
• Respect: Emphasises turn-taking, active listening, and creating respectful guidelines. 
• Safety & Choice: Allows the right to pass and builds confidence in sharing ideas. 
• Agency: Provides opportunities for discussion, collaboration, and co-creating guidelines, encouraging responsibility for group norms. 

The session allowed the students to connect further and provided the opportunity to connect. 

Additionally, Year 8 students completed their final Study Skills Session, which concentrated on specific strategies to read and answer questions effectively. Students now have clarity on command terms and content words. Myself, Ms Whelan, Mr Ritchie and Ms Li provided practice activities so that the students were able to gain confidence in their question analysis and responses. 

I hope the students enjoy Book Week! 

Joy Ashwell Callaway

Year 8 Coordinator