Year 9 & 10

Cyber safety: A powerful message for Years 9s and 10s

Our Year 9 and 10 students recently welcomed Susan McLean, a nationally recognised cyber safety expert and former Victoria Police officer. With 27 years of policing experience, Susan was the first Victorian police officer appointed specifically to a role involving cyber safety and young people.

Her presentation was engaging, direct and highly relevant to the social media challenges young people face today. Susan reinforced the important message that online posts, photographs and messages can remain accessible long after someone believes they have been deleted.

Of particular importance was her encouragement for students to hold one another accountable, speak up when behaviour crosses the line and resolve disagreements through respectful, face-to-face conversations rather than escalating situations through messages or online chat groups.

The presentation was an important reminder that respect, responsibility and good judgement must extend beyond the classroom and into our online interactions at all times and on all occasions.

Year 9: Growing, learning and stepping up

Term 4 has begun with plenty of energy as our Year 9 students look ahead to camp at Forest Edge Recreation Centre. With a range of activities on offer, camp promises many opportunities to challenge themselves, work together and strengthen friendships. I look forward to seeing students step outside their comfort zones and make the most of this experience.

In PAWS, students have continued their Protective Behaviours program, focusing on practical strategies for keeping safe. They have applied the Trust, Talk, Take Control model to everyday scenarios, identifying warning signs, weighing up risks and considering which trusted people they could approach for support. Group activities have also encouraged students to practise assertive communication, tackle difficult conversations and understand what it means to be a supportive friend. These skills will be valuable well beyond the classroom.

As the year draws to a close, it is important that students balance the excitement of upcoming events with a steady commitment to their studies. Assessments will gradually increase, and staying organised, seeking help early and putting in consistent effort will make the coming weeks far more manageable as well as hopefully improve marks and grades for Semester Two.

Well done to all Year 9 students who sat OLNA last week. Preparing for and completing these assessments is an achievement in itself, and I hope your efforts are rewarded when the results are announced.

As our students prepare to take their next steps towards the senior years of schooling, I encourage them to keep showing respect, taking responsibility for their choices and giving everything a fair go.

Year 10: Ready for the next chapter

The opening weeks of Term 4 have offered Year 10s some memorable reminders of how quickly their school journey is progressing. Students participated in the farewell service for our Year 12 cohort and were in Chapel as the new student leadership team was announced. It was a special occasion and a timely reminder that our Year 10 students are now stepping into the senior years of the School.

Another highlight was hearing from the Archbishop of York. His humour and thoughtful insights made for an entertaining and informative session, and I was particularly impressed by the excellent questions our students asked of him on a range of subjects.

In Protective Behaviours, students have been working through Topic 4, Strategies for Keeping Safe. Through group decision stations, they explored realistic situations, identified risks and considered how best to respond. The Think, Feel, Act, Persist model encourages students to recognise warning signs, take appropriate action and seek further help if their first approach does not work. They have also practised assertive communication and discussed how to challenge offensive comments calmly and respectfully.

With examinations now only a few weeks away, the focus must turn firmly to preparation. Even 20 minutes of purposeful revision each evening can make an enormous difference. Revisiting notes, testing understanding and asking teachers for help now will build confidence and avoid unnecessary last-minute pressure.

I encourage every Year 10 student to finish the year with pride, maturity and consistent effort, ready for the opportunities and responsibilities that await them in Year 11.

Mr Bradley Cotterell

Head of Year 9 and 10