DEPUTY PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

The change of weather is so welcome and being out in the sunshine at recess and lunchtime has brought a smile to the faces of our students. It is now time to adjust our uniform to suit the climate. All students should have a school hat with them at recess and lunchtime. This hat should be clearly named. Hats are available for purchase at Clarks and also at our Front Office. Living in Australia we all need to be aware of the potential damage that sun exposure can cause, particularly on days with a high UV factor. According to the Cancer Council, it is estimated that more than 18,200 people have been diagnosed with melanoma so far this year. The average age at diagnosis is 65 years old. Melanoma is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, and it is estimated that one in 17 people will be diagnosed by the time they are 85. This is something that we need to take seriously. 

While students are quite welcome to bring water bottles to class there is an expectation that they fill these drink bottles during recess and lunch. Students should not be leaving class to get a drink. Our classrooms are ventilated and air conditioned and students have ample time to get a drink during the scheduled breaks. There is some evidence that hydration is important for learning, especially for boys and the best way to approach this is to be organised rather than missing out on class time.

This week we had the elections for our 2024 School Captains. 10 Year 11 students presented their speeches to our school community and they were outstanding. While we will elect four captains, our ten candidates should be very proud of themselves. They have put themselves forward for leadership and they have done this with integrity. There is the opportunity to demonstrate leadership every day, not only in the organising of events but also in the way we treat each other. Leadership is as simple as looking at the person beside you and making sure that they are okay, that they are included and that they have what they need. Leadership is about other people and we can all do our best to support and encourage the people around us. Our theme this year has been Reverence: we reverence our relationships by being a gift of love and compassion to one another. This is something that we can all do, every day.