Ways to Wellbeing
Girls Group Term 4
Year 7 Girls Group, Week 7-8 Year 7 girls’ group has continued, with sessions in week 7 and week 8 focussing on brain development, growth, and social media. The girls have learnt some new things about brain development in teenage years, and discussed this in relation to growing into the person they want to become, while we engaged in planting and tending to some flower and vegetable seedlings planted in the garden bed made by the Camden Tradies group. In week 8 we also explored and discussed social media more in depth, and attempted the challenge to create a video that contrasts the difference between a video created for a social media audience, and one that captures a more real life experience of the same environment and circumstances. The girls had a lot of fun in creating their videos and are looking forward to re-watching and editing them this week.
RAGE
A small group of students have been participating in RAGE in Term 4.
Over the last few weeks, students have been working hard to determine how they can better protect themselves from outside influences and how they can still work to keep their true self inside. To experiment with a real-world example, students were each given an egg that they needed to protect with various items. Each student was given the opportunity to create their own invention and use the resources given to protect their egg to the best of their ability.
They then dropped the eggs from the second floor of H Block. Surprisingly each egg survived!
It was a great session for our students where they began to discover that even when things outside of ourselves get tough, we can stay “intact” on the inside.
RAGE will be back in 2024. If you would like any further information about this award-winning program, please contact our wellbeing team at school.
Rock and Water Training
In Week 6, Mr Berrell (Head Teacher Wellbeing) went out to Holsworthy High School for three days to be trained up in Rock and Water. Rock and Water is a course that works to develop self-confidence, self-respect and self-reflection. Using many martial arts concepts, the program has a strong appeal to students who enjoy the active nature of games and physical interaction. One main idea from Rock and Water is “How do we build a sense of purpose in students?”. Physical exercises are constantly linked with mental and social skills. The program leads from simple self-defence, boundary and communication exercises to a strong notion of self-confidence. The program offers a framework of exercises and ideas about adolescence and adulthood to assist boys and girls to become aware of purpose and motivation in their life. Students will learn to stand strong, negotiate using “rock” or “water” verbal approaches, walk away from trouble, consider alternatives to aggression, and develop understandings about who they are, their intuitive feelings and their personal direction.
Rock and Water programs have previously been run here at Camden High School and now that we have 3 staff trained to deliver the course, in 2024, Mr Berrell, Kristina and Pete plan to roll out Rock and Water programs for Year 7 students and give opportunity for other small groups of students in Years 8-12.
For more information on Rock and Water visit https://www.rockandwater.com.au/ or contact Mr Berrell on 4655 9191
Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen
Monday of Week 6 saw fifteen Year 8 girls participate in the Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen (SALT) workshop at Camden High School. Three tradeswomen came out to CHS to up-skill our girls in seeking apprenticeships, generating social change and accessing male dominated worksites. SALT commenced with a safety induction and all participants wore personal protective equipment (PPE). They created a timber project, measuring up, cutting and assembling with assistance from qualified tradeswomen. The tools and skills involved included, measuring with tapes and set squares; cutting with a variety of saws such as hand saw, drop saw and jigsaw to assembling with drills, impact drivers, nails, screws, hammers, nail punches and different drill bits. Each tool was explained and correct safe use shown, supervised and overseen to above trade standards. Some of our participants have included a short piece on their experiences.
“The SALT program was very useful as it showed us many opportunities in trades and many different ways to get into a trade. The ladies were very nice as they helped us use many new tools and show us all the safety precautions. We built a wooden tool box with a handle in the middle which we were then able to take home. We had the opportunity to work 1 on 1 with our instructor and get to know tall about the tools and learn things we didn’t already know.”
Sienna C
“I learnt how to use main tools used on a worksite such as drop saw, hand saw, hand file etc. We learnt the different types of trades we can get out of doing SALT program. The ladies were very nice and easy to get along with. I was very comfortable to ask questions and have a laugh. We were able to do most things ourselves after a demo. I would recommend doing it more often as a lot of the girls changed their minds about what they want to do for a career later on in life.”
Abby B
“At the women’s tradie program (SALT), we learned all sorts of useful trade skills. We learnt how to use drop saws and jigsaws, drills and much more. My experience was great, the people who helped us were super kind and helpful and of course brilliant to talk to. This program taught me responsibility and focusing and overall, it was heaps helpful for me and would 100% do it again.”
Grace B
TRADIES
The second half of this term has seen the Tradies work on the long jump pit to revamp and reconstruct it! The pit was light work after our huge garden bed construction. We are still waiting on filling it with sand in 2024 and getting a professional cover installed. Shoutouts to Aidan and Zayden that did most of the work with Pete for this project. A brand new award has been created in Wellbeing called the Pete Lewis Award for hard work and consistent effort for those in the Tradies Program. Aidan has been awarded this for 2023 as he continuously showed his diligence, punctuality and commitment to getting our projects finished. The 2023 Tradies are signing out for the year and look forward to seeing a new crop of Tradies in 2024!
Wests Teach Harmony Excursion
Eighteen Year 7 boys went out to Wests Tigers facilities in Week 5 to engage in the Wests Teach Harmony program. The program was run by two NRLW superstars Kezie Apps (NSW, AUS and Wests Tigers captain) and Sala (Sarah) Togatuki (NRLW Wests Tigers Player of the Year), as well as Kenny who is involved in running the pathways development program. The boys learnt about Communication, Resilience and Respect. Some of the key messages that they took home were to think about life as if they were playing sport and how they treat each other on the field and off it. The boys loved the physical aspect of some of the activities and getting to see the facilities first hand.
White Card Course
During week 5 and 6, students participated in the White Card course which allows them to work safely in the construction industry. The students were engaged and attentive all day and as a result all successfully passed the course and received their white cards.
Feedback from the presenters is always positive about our CHS students, and both Pete and Colin from TCP Training say that Camden High is one of their favourite schools to visit. Throughout the year, 116 students from Camden High School successfully attained their white card via the training held at school.
An amazing achievement that enables our young people to be ready for the workforce.
Next year will bring even more opportunities for CHS students as they will also being able to opt in for training to obtain their RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) or First Aid Certificate all within school.
Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season!