Student Matters

MindMatters

• Orientation Days for Years 5, 6 & 7
• Vale Mrs Anne McElvogue
• MindMatters for Families:

               Building Young Boys' Mental Resilience

               Buddies Beach Walk - Friday 25th November

               Boxercise at Balmoral - Thursday 1st December

               World Diabetes Day

• General Notice:  Holy Family Christmas Market

Orientation Days

YEARS 5 & 6

The information morning and basic skills testing for our new Year 5 and 6, 2017 students was conducted last Saturday at the Chatswood Campus, with all students receiving an address from College Vice Captain Daniel Butler and Principal Mr John Couani. A range of key staff provided information to students and parents from their respective portfolios.

All relevant information can be found in the communications provided, and the key message from the day concerned the warm welcome to the newest members of our community, and tips for them on how to best connect, contribute and get involved as vital members of our College. The wellbeing of our students and community is our primary focus as we pursue our goal to develop lifelong learners, thinkers and men of action for a positive future.

YEAR 7

Yesterday 8th November we warmly welcomed our Graduating Class of 2022 to the College with an Orientation Day which featured a meet and greet for new students and teachers before some diagnostic testing for students and an information session for those parents who were able to remain.

Later in the day our New Year 7s were able to walk to Beauchamp Park for lunch under the supervision of staff before some Year 7 Pastoral Staff and Senior students led an information session on how to prepare for Year 7, in the Year 7 homerooms. Period 6 featured a tour of the school including our newly refurbished Chapel and Drama room along with Science Labs, Resource Centre, Year 7 area, Gym, Canteen, TAS, Art, Music Rooms and Reception areas.

All boys received an Information Booklet which covered the main topics of the day and may prompt a conversation with your son on how to effectively use a locker, prepare for 6 periods of different subjects a day from a timetable and use the College Portal, as well as the General College Guidelines, policies and rules, matters relating to attendance and absences as well as student wellbeing practices.

An electronic copy of the student booklet will be emailed home with an outline of information disseminated on the day for your information.

The main date to note for your diary is the Parent Information Evening on Monday 6th February,  Week 2 of Term 1 2017. Any student who missed the diagnostic testing will make this up on Wednesday 8th February 2017. Parents will receive a report of their son’s results from these tests.

Senior School Sportsmaster, Mr Stearn emphasised the need to complete the online form for sports activity nominations 2017: https://spxchatswood.formstack.com/forms/enrolment_survey (note an underscore between enrolment and survey).

Performing Arts Coordinator Ms Tracey Bates pointed out the  expression of interest, ensemble, music lessons and enrolment forms as outlined in the Performing Arts section.  There is an opportunity for interested parties to the attend the Christmas Performing Arts Twilight Concert on Friday 2nd December 2017.

It was pleasing to see so many students and parents with positive feedback about their experience of the day.

Mr S Brannan - Head of Student Services

Vale Mrs Anne McElvogue

The College was saddened last week to hear of the passing of Mrs Anne McElvogue Grandmother of Charles McElvogue in Year 8. Mrs McElvogue was a long standing member and supporter of the College Community having educated Charles’ dad James ‘88 and his brothers Sean ’81 and Tom ’84 through the College. Their father Mr Brian McElvogue (RIP) was also an Old Boy of the College and Life Member of Brothers (Old Boys) Rugby Club.

Ms S Brannan - Old Boys' Association

MindMatters

WHY BUILDING YOUNG BOYS' MENTAL RESILIENCE IS SO IMPORTANT AS A PARENT (And How To Do It)

Excerpt from an article posted on November 7, 2016 by Generation Next

For hundreds of years, young boys have been brought up with the belief that to be a “real” man, you have to be tough.  The notion of having physical resilience as a way to get by in life seems to have overshadowed the equally important need for mental resilience.

Artist Grayson Perry summed this up perfectly in his latest book on masculinity, ‘The Descent of Man’. In it, he describes a time when he rode past a young boy who was struggling to cycle up a steep track in a forest.  The boy sobbed and called for his dad. He refused Perry’s help.

Perry looked over to the boy’s dad, who was stood arms crossed in the distance, and said he “looked angry, with a face that said: ‘Toughen up, don’t whine, be a man!’” And that’s where the problem begins.

Society should not underestimate the huge amount of pressure young boys face today, some of which are often assumed to only affect girls. Family breakdown, stress at school, body image issues, early sexualisation, 24/7 online networking, bullying on and offline and uncertainty about the future after school are all piling on the stress for boys.

For the full article please click on the link below:

http://www.generationnext.com.au/2016/11/building-young-boys-mental-resilience-important-parent/

BUDDIES BEACH WALK:  Save the Date - Friday 25th November

The Buddies Beach Walk from Long Reef to Dee Why will take place after the Founder's Day event at Oxford Falls. This is a compulsory activity for all mentors and their mentees.  A letter will be sent home by the end of this week providing full details. Any parent assistance to help with catering will be greatly appreciated.

BOXERCISE AT BALMORAL:  Save the date - Thursday 1st December

WORLD DIABETES DAY:  Monday 14th November

Hi! My name is Josh and I'm in Year 7. This year is my 10th year of living with Type 1 Diabetes. There is currently no cure and this Sunday 13th November I am taking part in the JDRF One Walk - to walk for a world without Type 1 diabetes. Please consider making a donation and support my walk to turn Type 1 into Type NONE!

Simply click on the link below to view Josh's page:

https://jdrf-walk-nsw-2016.everydayhero.com/au/joshua-2

Thank you!

Let's get behind several of our students who struggle daily with the medical condition of Diabetes, by creating greater awareness about diabetes within our school community.  World Diabetes day is next Monday 14th November - a day globally recognised to create greater awareness to those in our community living with diabetes.  For more information go to https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/world-diabetes-day

Mr R Russo - College Counsellor

Holy Family Christmas Market

Please see the flyer below for details.