Student Wellbeing

Bully Zero

Students in Years 7, 8 and 11 participated in a series workshops by the organisation Bully Zero. The aim of these sessions was to educate students about bullying in different contexts including everyday life and social situations, the online environment and the workplace.  Excellent parent resources can be found on their website: Parent Resources | Bully Zero

Digital Wellness Incursion

Empowering Our Students: Insights from Kayelene Kerr and Daniel Principe

Recently, our students had the privilege of attending sessions with two remarkable speakers who addressed the challenges facing young people today.

Kayelene Kerr delivered a compelling talk to our girls, focusing on the dangers of social media and its addictive nature. She highlighted the importance of sleep hygiene, emphasizing how putting down our phones can lead to better sleep and overall well-being. Kayelene also delved into crucial topics such as protecting ourselves and those close to us, the sexualisation and degradation of females in the media, and the alarming issues of sexual abuse and grooming. She provided valuable insights on impulse control and the importance of seeking support and assistance when needed.

Daniel Precipe spoke to our boys about the vital role of guidance and support during adolescence. He passionately advocates for creating spaces where boys can be decent, courageous, and find their purpose. Daniel addressed the toxic influences and limiting stereotypes that bombard today’s youth through social media and advertising, with a particular focus on the pervasive issue of pornography. He emphasised the unrealistic expectations and harmful messages that porn culture promotes, and the importance of helping young men navigate these challenges. Daniel encouraged our boys to challenge these distortions and instead aspire to live lives of respect, empathy, and healthy relationships built on mutual respect.

Both sessions were incredibly impactful, leaving our students with much to think about as they navigate the complex challenges of adolescence. We are grateful to Kayelene and Daniel for their inspiring contributions to our school community. We look forward to removing a mindset of mediocrity and further igniting a passion for being exceptional, for the glory of God.

Vaping Workshop

Our Year 10 students recently participated in Just Say No, a 40–60-minute vaping education presentation by Jade Lewis, designed specifically for school students.  Jade Lewis is a dynamic and experienced speaker who delivered an engaging presentation on vaping, shedding light on the facts, risks, and consequences.  The emphasis on prevention equips young people with the essential tools to resist peer pressure and how to ask for help.  The presentation covered exit strategies and provided guidance to those who may be using vapes. Following up after the presentation, the Year 10 cohort will be completing 4 follow-up lessons that are provided by Jade Lewis to reinforce what they learnt at the workshop. 

Cybersafety Tips

5 Tips to Keep Your Family Safe Online (taken from eSafety website) 

Parents and carers can use a combination of strategies to help young people build their digital technology skills and have safer experiences online.

1 - Start the chat

Get into the habit of talking about online safety as a family, so your child feels comfortable coming to you if they ever need help working out an issue. It’s never too early to introduce good online habits such as respect, empathy, critical thinking, responsible behaviour and resilience. As your child grows older, eSafety’s advice about hard-to-have conversations will help with some of the tricky topics like sending nudes, online pornography and contact with sexual predators.

2 - Create a family technology agreement

Creating a Family Technology Agreement can help you and your kids decide together when and how digital technology will be used at home. As a family, brainstorm easy-to-follow rules and display them where everyone will see them. Your agreement could cover things like time limits, apps your kids are allowed to use, and online behaviour. Families with younger children can download a template to guide the conversation.

3. Set up parental controls

Parental controls let you monitor and limit what your child sees and does online. It’s best to use them in combination with the other online safety strategies listed here. Taming the technology can help you understand your options. Grab a device and get started with our guides to setting up parental controls on devices and accounts or in social media, games and apps.

4 - Choose games and other apps carefully

Use eSafety’s App checklist for parents to think about the positives and negatives when you rchild asks to download a new game or other app. The checklist covers things like age ratings, managing privacy settings and reporting abuse in-app. You can also use The eSafety guide to check and set up safety features with your child.

5 - Use digital technology together

Exploring or playing on devices or online with your child can be a positive experience that promotes learning and development. Ask questions, be curious and get involved. To learn more, read our blog post, How to encourage good screen practices for your child.

For more information, check out the eSafety Commissioners website: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents