Wellbeing 

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Year 12 Graduation Mass and Farewell Assembly

As a College, we formally farewelled our Year 12 students with Graduation Mass last Thursday night and a Farewell Assembly the following Friday morning.  It was fantastic to also be able to welcome approximately 180 parents to the Assembly.  Both events are a fitting tribute to the wonderful students the Year 12s have been throughout not only this year but throughout their secondary school lives.  They had to endure remote learning through Grade 6 and Year 7 as well as limitations with events and activities that they would normally participate in and in some instances be seen as a rite of passage during those years.  Throughout their time at the College, they have consistently demonstrated maturity, resilience, independence, adaptability, an unwavering support for each other and a level of leadership this year that is going to be very hard to rival.  I have no doubt that the experience of their Junior years will hold the students in good stead and allow them to manage any hurdles that come their way once beyond life at the Academy.  They should be immensely proud of their approach.  The absolute best wishes to the Graduating Class of 2026 with their examinations and with whatever direction they decide to embark on in their adult life.  As I reminded them in the Assembly, the Academy is ‘their’ school, and each of their names are in the College Register, which is now 169 years old.  The gates on Nicholson Street will always be open to them, and they will forever be part of this community.  Wherever life takes them, they belong here, and they are always welcome to walk back through those gates and visit the school that helped shape who they have become and the school that holds part of their story.

‘Managing Distractions’

‘Reach Out’ is an excellent publication that provides many articles on the different issues that young people face in their journey through adolescence.  This linked article provides a number of very useful tips on how young people can manage distractions, especially during a time when exams and final assessments are looming large.  I invite all parents to spend a few minutes reading the article and discussing some of the strategies with their daughters.  It can be found here.

Wellbeing Cycle

As the conversation surrounding school attendance continues to gain traction and is a significant issue for all schools, students and parents, a reminder that consistent attendance has never been more critical. 

Research shows a strong correlation between school attendance and academic performance.  Students who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve higher grades and perform better on standardised tests.  According to a study conducted by the National Centre for Education Statistics, students with a 95% attendance rate are significantly more likely to graduate high school compared to their peers with lower attendance rates.

School is not just a place for academic learning, regular attendance allows students to build relationships with peers and teachers, fostering a sense of community and belonging.  These social skills are essential for personal development and future workplace success.  Consistent school attendance is closely tied to good mental health and wellbeing.  Students who miss school frequently may experience feelings of isolation and anxiety, which can exacerbate existing mental health issues. 

As a way of combating student absence, the Wellbeing Leaders at the Academy have continued to employ the Attendance and Wellbeing Cycle. 

This model illustrates the emotional and behavioural notions children and young adults exhibit in the face of school-related stressors.  It is a cycle that teachers, parents, and family members may be all too familiar with.  You may notice the connection between anxious thoughts, and avoidant behaviour.  When a student is feeling stressed due to homework demands, friendship issues, generalised anxiety, or exam-related stress, it is common to see an increase in avoidant behaviours such as not wanting to come to school, avoiding a particular subject, or wanting to take a ‘mental health day’.  Whilst this avoidant behaviour may make the student feel better in the short term, it does not address the cause of their stress and can unfortunately perpetuate this cyclical response. 

Further information about school refusal can also be found here.

If you are noticing some of these signs with your daughter, please encourage her to reach out to her Mentor Group Teacher, Wellbeing Leader, classroom teacher or school counsellor.  The community at the Academy is always dedicated to supporting the learning and wellbeing of our students. 

Facebook Buy Swap & Sell Page

A reminder for any families interested in selling or buying second hand uniforms that there is an Academy Facebook page.  This page had been running organically for some time but Ms Camilla Dighton, President of the Parents’ Association has now been the ‘admin’ of the page for the last two years.  It's a great platform to be utilised and as it is overseen by Camilla, it's a safe space.  The page is for the benefit of everyone in the Academy community. 

The link is below.   Feel free to join the group and if you have any questions the admin of the group can help you. 

https://www. facebook.com/groups/academybss 

Further to the above, whilst most students tend to sell books amongst themselves, there is also the option for parents to utilise the Sustainable School Shop.  This is an option for parents only and can be accessed using this link www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au.  We provide the sustainable book shop a copy of our booklist so they can ensure parents are getting the correct editions of books etc.

As always, please never hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sam Di Camillo

Deputy Principal - Wellbeing & Operations