Year 7 & 8
Newsletter-June
Yr 8 - Live4life Launch
On Friday 30 May, more than 600 students, staff, and local leaders came together at the Gippsland Regional Sports Complex in Sale to celebrate the official launch of Live4Life 2025—a youth-led mental health initiative focused on education, connection, and support.
Live4Life is a unique program in Australia, designed specifically for rural and regional communities. In partnership with local schools, health services, and government, it provides vital mental health education and youth suicide prevention.
This year’s theme, created by Year 9 and 10 students from the Live4Life crew in Wellington Shire, was: “Stay Strong. If you fall apart, mental health is where we start.”
The launch event included students from six local secondary schools—Sale College, Maffra Secondary College, Yarram Secondary College, Catholic College Sale, Gippsland Grammar, and Sale and District Specialist School—along with representatives from Victoria Police, Headspace, Quantum Support Services, Latrobe Regional Health, the Department of Education, Wellington Shire, and Gippsland Primary Health Network. After being introduce to the program and the 2025 Crew members, students engaged in a range of activities that demonstrated
We are proud of the way our students conducted themselves and to have been part of this important initiative that supports the wellbeing of our young people and strengthens our community.
Year 7 and 8 Students Experience Brainstorm Production Flip Side
Recently, our Year 7 and 8 students had the opportunity to watch Flip Side, a thought-provoking performance by Brainstorm Productions that explores important themes of personal responsibility, empathy, respect, and resilience in the online world.
The story follows Jack and Ella, who discover that when bullying is used to gain power, it’s crucial to create an ethical roadmap to safely navigate digital spaces. The performance asks students to consider how words, images, and videos shared online might be received, the potential consequences, and the importance of speaking up.
Flip Side sparks meaningful conversations about what is humorous, toxic, private, humiliating, informative, safe, or appropriate online. It encourages
students to think critically about their own online values and behaviour, while offering practical strategies for empathy, resilience, help-seeking, and positive bystander actions.
This production complements our school’s ongoing bullying prevention, online safety, and wellbeing programs, providing a valuable platform for further classroom discussion and learning.
Year 7 and 8 Students Explore Anti-Bullying Strategies in Learning 2 Learn
As part of the Learning 2 Learn program, our Year 7 and 8 students have recently completed an important unit focused on bullying prevention and respectful behaviour. This unit aimed to build awareness, empathy, and confidence in managing challenging social situations both online and offline.
Key topics explored included:
· Brodie’s Law – Students learned about the Victorian legislation that makes serious bullying a criminal offence. Through real-life examples and class discussions, students gained a deeper understanding of the serious impact bullying can have and the legal protections in place.
· Handling Rumours and Gossip – Lessons focused on how to deal with the spread of misinformation and hurtful talk. Students developed strategies for managing these situations respectfully and constructively, with an emphasis on kindness and personal responsibility.
· Being an Up-stander – Rather than standing by, students were encouraged to take positive action when witnessing bullying. The unit explored the difference between being a bystander and an up-stander, and how small actions—like checking in with someone or reporting an incident—can make a big difference.
· Finding Help and Support – Students identified trusted adults and support networks they can turn to if they or someone they know is experiencing bullying. The unit reinforced the message that no one should face bullying alone, and that help is always available.
This learning unit is an essential part of our school’s commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all students. We are proud of the thoughtful engagement and maturity shown by our Year 7 and 8 students throughout these discussions.
Fiona Ray
Year 7 & 8 Leader
