Respectful Relationships & Wellbeing News

"It takes a village to raise a child" .

It was amazing to see the lessons we have been doing in Respectful Relationships being reinforced on our special day of acknowledging the amazing work of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. Bruce and Denise Morcombe have dedicated their time to advocating child safety and protection awareness programs across schools and communities nationwide in remembrance of their son, Daniel. Our children were able to understand the key messages due to the work our teachers are doing in Respectful Relationships which is reinforced with the work  done at home from our families. 

Gender and identity and Positive gender relations

Children learn gender norms and expectations from an early age and this influences the roles, attitudes and behaviours they adopt. They absorb gender expectations from many sources including parents, friends, teachers and the media. They also observe institutional and community practices and traditions. From an early age, children engage in mimesis –copying what they see adults and older children do. Some gender expectations can be harmful and lead to inequitable treatment, risky behaviour, negative health impacts or violence. 

Thus negative gender norms have health impacts for both sexes. An understanding of the cultural and contextual nature of gender expression enables students to challenge the notion of fixed roles and attributes. Helping students understand the potentially negative effects of gender norms allows them to question their own and the wider society’s attitudes towards men and women, and to work to change norms that reduce equity, limit opportunities, contribute to poor health or lead to violence.

This is a lesson that our Grade 5/6 students did with inspiration from this video. The students drew a 

• Footballer
• Dancer
• Builder
• Nurse
• Teacher

It was brilliant to see our students have such an open mind in to what a person can choose to be as they grow up. This is the backbone of the lessons we do in our Respectful Relationships program that the school is running from prep to year six.

YOU CAN'T BE WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Aweo-74kY

Keep an eye out for more information & updates in the newsletter throughout the year.

sbrown@shsandringham.catholic.edu.au  

Simon Brown

Head of Wellbeing