Welcome to term 3. Particularly to any new families that have joined our Marian community. I hope that everyone enjoyed the break and are now looking forward to the term.

In the final week of last term, we concluded our “Share What You Can” food drive initiative and all donations were presented to local services, St Vincent de Paul and Linking Communities Network (LCN). Both services support those currently experiencing disadvantage, particularly due to financial distress or homelessness.

The support from the MCC community was phenomenal and both services were extremely appreciative of all the donated goods.

The initiative was promoted within the school by the Year 11 Wellbeing Team as a well-being activity which not only provided essential, practical support to the benefactors of the donations but also improved the emotional wellbeing of both the giver and the receiver. Studies have proven that volunteering and assisting others release feel good chemicals/ hormones oxytocin and endorphins and this can significantly boost our self-esteem and mood.

Pictured are some of the team with the donations and a representative from LCN, Deb Longhurst.

This term the team have plans to hold an activity to promote resilience and wellbeing across the school as well as acknowledging R U OK Day. Embracing the yellow duck to symbolize resilience the team will be holding a “Duck Fest” during lunch time Friday 4th Sept, where they will have a cake and bake stall, group activities and games on the oval and “Just Dance” happening within the hall.

Prior to this they will facilitate a wellbeing activity for all of year 11 where students will have the opportunity to participate in activities that foster resilience and develop strategies to reduce stress prior to their preliminary exams. The team are extremely excited and will share further details in the next newsletter.

Last Friday, some of the WB team joined me in facilitating an activity with year 12. The goal of the activity had been to promote wellbeing and reduce stress as they navigate their final term prior to completing their HSC. In addition, many are experiencing the realisation that their formal schooling is coming to an end, and they will have to make decisions regarding life beyond school. This is starting to become a reality, and this can trigger many different emotions. Transition times in our life can be both exciting as well as stressful. Through consultation with their pastoral leader the plan was to create an activity that not only promotes fun and but allows the students to allow their minds to have a break from focusing on the future and simply be present in the current moment.

The students, and their teachers were to be congratulated for stepping outside of their comfort zone and participating in all the activities. Many of the activities were based around childhood memories and games and music that reminded us of a time when life was far more carefree and simpler.

Believe it or not there was some psychology and science behind what we did throughout the morning and as we completed an elimination version of head, shoulders, knees and “cups” or danced the hokey pokey we laughed, we tested and stimulated our reflexes, we got active, we sang, we had human touch and we laughed some more, we were indeed producing chemicals within our bodies that stimulated happiness chemicals dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins.

As the morning continued, we learnt a new skill (albeit a new dance), we danced and sang as if nobody was watching and then we laughed some more. All this physical exercise lifted our heart rate and tested our lung capacity, so we used the practice of mindfulness and the correct method of belly breathing to regulate both our heart rate and breathing. The skills practiced can be transferred to other aspects or time in the student’s life where they may feel overwhelmed or stressed.

All the students were gifted with a take home bag containing items to serve as gentle reminders as they navigate the challenges of the term. One of the more popular items in the bag was a rubber duck and a reflective affirmation. This represents our theme for the year, resilience. Rubber ducks don't swim backwards. Their journey is aways moving forward regardless of any obstacles within their way. They can be faced with many, many challenges such as rapids, floods, reeds, dry riverbed or blessed with a regulated water flow. They do not give up but take the time to solve problems, learn from experiences or mistakes and remember they cannot control many external factors in their life but can only be responsible for how they react and their own journey.....wherever life takes them.

The feedback from staff and students, both those within year 12 and the year 11 students who assisted, was positive and a great time was had by all. Laughter truly is THE BEST medicin

Regards Sue Hone

(School Wellbeing Support Worker)

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