Director of Student Wellbeing
Ms Farron Boxall
Congratulations to our Year 11 and Year 10 students who this week completed their TASC and End of Year Exams respectively. As their academic year comes to a close it is important to reflect on their journey to this point. This year has been marked by growth, challenges and memorable moments that have shaped our students into the individuals they are becoming. Academically, they have mastered new skills and their achievements which were acknowledged recently in our Academic Assembly is a testament to their hard work and dedication to their studies. Beyond the classroom, this year has been a year of personal development for our Senior School students. They have embraced significant student leadership opportunities and demonstrated resilience in the face of a range of challenges. As they navigated the complexities of adolescence they have shown empathy to each other and a sense of community. Looking ahead, the lessons learned and friendships forged will serve as a solid foundation for the challenges and opportunities that await in Year 11 and 12. We are proud of the growth we’ve witnessed in each student this year and look forward to celebrating their successes at our Thanksgiving & Awards Evening on 7 November at MyState Arena.
Sleep
In what is a busy time of the Term for our Middle Years students meeting Assessment Task deadlines and due dates I wish to highlight the importance of sleep to their general wellbeing and academic performance. Some students have relayed to us that they are often up to very late at night or in the middle of the night, on phones, iPads and other electronic devices playing games. The importance of sleep for adolescent boys is critical for their development both physically and mentally. Teenagers should be getting between 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night. Information from ‘Better Health’ suggests that;
Regularly not getting enough sleep leads to chronic sleep deprivation. This can have dramatic effects on a teenager’s life, impacting their mental wellbeing, increasing their risk of depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. It can also affect academic performance at school.
Below are some useful links about the importance of sleep and the side effects of sleep deprivation:
Online Safety
The eSafety Commissioner's Office has provided information to remind families of online safety and the help and resources available to them via the eSafety Commissioner's Office. As we lead up to Christmas and the end of the year there are a number of scams and malicious activities taking place online. Please see information below.
People usually know how to keep themselves safe offline, but it's not always the case when we go online. In our latest initiative, we compare online safety to everyday objects that keep you safe – just like eSafety does when you go online.
When it comes to online safety, we can help. We educate Australians about online safety risks and help to remove harmful content such as cyberbullying of children and young people, adult cyber abuse, image-based abuse and illegal and restricted content.
Help get the word out about online safety! Forward this email to friends, family or share in your school newsletter and let your network know there’s support available if they experience online abuse.
The eSafety Commissioner can support with:
- Advice for parents, kids and young people on staying safe online
- Classroom materials and professional training on online safety for educators
- Resources to keep vulnerable communities safe
- Investigating reports of serious online harm and help with removal of this content.
