Anchorage House News
The Year Eight boys have been participating in Youth Mental Health First Aid training to develop mental health literacy in their Health classes. One of the key aims is to reduce the stigma around seeking help. RUOK? Day was an ideal opportunity to further the conversation in Anchorage about this. Jack Lange baked cupcakes in RUOK? Day muffin cases and decorated them with yellow icing. The boys took these to school for recess.
We played a game, conversation bingo, to encourage asking open-ended questions to get to know each other better. The emphasis was on deepening connections and building trust to help others to open up about life’s challenges. We talked about the simple steps to follow when having a RUOK? Conversation:
- Ask R U OK?
- Listen with an open mind
- Encourage action to seek support
- Check in
Rolley got into the spirit of the day, wearing a RUOK? collar.
We joined Eclipse House for dinner and shared some games of pool, table tennis and had a weight session with the Senior boys. We have also played some card games with conversation starters on them, to keep the momentum of meaningful conversations going.
When we reflect back over the term, it seems to go so fast, yet we jam so much into it, not including school! These are some of the things that have occupied the boys this term:
Water slide, ice cream birthday cakes, AFL games on TV, Red Moort Arts Exhibition, ping pong, cheese toasties, soccer, Newdegate Field Day, cups of tea, Plaza shopping trips, waffles, ALAC inflatable pontoon, basketball, fishing, floor ball, drawing/sketching, cinema, footy, gym sessions, milkshakes, Stumble Guys, Spike Ball, bike riding, x-box, banana smoothies, touch rugby, cooking, cricket, music, quiz night, rugby tour, bacon and eggs, puddles, Kingfisher Concert, winter sport wind-ups.
Many of the boys enjoyed having the black tarp out on the hill between the house and the rugby oval throughout Week Nine. No matter the weather, sunny, rainy, or windy, the boys really enjoyed making the most of it.
I thought I would share some more on the winter sport participation of the boys.
Matt Cant plays in both the forward line and the back line for his football team, the Lions. It was a challenging season for Matt, as illness kept him out of games for a few weeks. Matt’s season highlight was scoring a snap goal against the Mt Barker Bulls. He is hoping for a better season next year.
Patrick Buckenarra keeps very busy playing in defence for the Griffins soccer team. He is also involved in basketball games each Wednesday at the GSG Gym to be prepared for the summer season. On Sundays he goes to ALAC with the Great Southern Development Squad to participate in scrimmage and drills. But that is not all that Patrick does to keep fit and have fun. He goes to Muay Thai three times a week. Muay Thai is a martial art that involves punching, kicking, elbowing and kneeing. Sometimes he rounds the week off with a Muay Thai weightlifting session too.
Archie Atkinson plays football for the Cats. The Cats started out not great but improved and made it to the finals where we got kicked out by the Magpies. The highlight of the year for me was beating Fraser’s team, the Swans. I also played hockey for Griffins Red. It was my first year playing hockey and I was excited to receive the Coaches’ Award.
Birthdays
A big Happy Birthday goes to Jack Lange who celebrated his 14th birthday in Week Nine.
Ms Anne Robertson | Head of Anchorage House