Secondary School

Welcome to Term Four!

The start of the final term is unique; after several glorious days of weather through the holidays, I think we can all sense summer on the horizon. We have seen incredible achievements this year and significant progress as school becomes more focused on learning, growing and preparing for the steps beyond school, now that COVID is less dominant in our thoughts.  I encourage all students to finish the year well by continuing to work hard and making the most of the opportunities presented to them.

As the sunshine plays its role in giving so many of us a boost to our mental health, October seems a wise point to consider mental health and give it some attention.  If your child is struggling beyond the natural periodic off-day, please reach out; there may well be something we can do here at school to help or support you. 

Our School Captains, Pierce and Stella, said the following at Assembly this week:

Pierce:

Good morning staff and students and welcome back to the beginning of Term Four. Stella and I hope you have had a wonderful holiday and are well rested to get back into rhythm as the term starts rolling. Something I wanted to share quickly with you today is the concept of mental fitness. Mental Health and Physical health are two very different statuses that we can possess at any given time. Within both these categories you have potential, the potential to improve them.

Amongst all year groups the question of, how many times do you train a week, how much study did you do or how many times do you go to the gym a week are questions we ask so frequently. Our commitment to our physical fitness, training and academics is a prime example of delayed gratification. A short-term struggle for a long term gain. And over time these short-term struggles add up to and contribute to our potential.

And the same can be said about activities that contribute to what goes on inside our brains. By starting to actively think about the things that contribute to the potential betterment of our mental health we start making small sacrifices, such as going to bed early, eating good food, spending time outdoors and minimising screen time.

When I wrote this, I realised that these activities are far easier said than done. With so many distractions in today’s age these vital necessities often get looked over. But by building the commitment to making little sacrifices for an extended period of time you will be able to reach your potential and only then will you realise how beneficial these simple sacrifices can be.

Stella:

As mentioned earlier, this week is mental health awareness week. This week is something I consider extremely important, as you never really know what someone is going through, and it’s important to take care of yourself and be kind to the people around you. A good way to think about this, is relating it to commitment and how, like we commit to friendships and sporting teams, we have to commit to ourselves.

We spend so much time in our lives, worried about what other people think, and what other people need or want. And sometimes we forget that we’re a person too, and like others, we need the support we give. 

It is so easy to make someone smile, but it is just as easy to forget that you’re someone too. 

We change ourselves to fit the standards of others, because that’s what we think has to be done. But we forget that we’re all in this crazy, twisted, exciting world together, and we don’t have to change to find people we fit with.  You are you because that’s how you are meant to be. 

We are each made in a specific way and that’s how it was meant to be. Our individuality is what makes us special, if we were all the same, with no flaws, no differences, the world would be boring.

Someone told me recently, to become an observer. And I couldn’t think of better advice. We get so caught up in the minor details of life, that we forget to take care of ourselves. 

I want to leave you with a quote that sticks with me, by Dr Seuss “Today you are you, that is truer than true, there is no one alive that is youer than you”. Try not to forget this, because there is nothing more important in our lives, than our individuality. 

Mrs Victoria Turnor | Head of Secondary

GATE Competition Results

As we draw a close to the busy calendar of academic competitions and events, the results and performance of our students are telling a wonderful story of achievement. 

The Australian Geography Competition is a national competition that was held last term. It is an event that assesses geographical knowledge and skills, and at Assembly on Wednesday we celebrated the achievement and success of the following students who received recognition for their performance. 

Year Eight 

Year Nine - Congratulations to Patrick Buckenara, who achieved a result placing him in the top one percent of competitors across Australia.

Year Ten

Year Eleven

The Australian Science Olympiad Exams are challenging and rewarding exams held once a year. In the Junior Science Olympiad, we congratulate the following students:

A special mention to Edmund Toomey (Year Seven), who has recently accepted an offer to join the Junior Science Olympiad Training Squad. This invitation-only program aims to accelerate a small number of students who participated in the exam who show promise, and further develops science knowledge and and skills over the next ten months through mentorship with Dr Kathryn White from the Australian National University.

For our Senior Secondary students, The Australian Science Olympiad is discipline-specific. Congratulations to the following students for their excellent academic achievement: 

Mr Kyal Rose | GATE Coordinator