Student Voice & Leadership
RUOK Week at BHS - A Week of Connection
Last week, our Wellbeing Team and Student Leadership Team combined forces to deliver a range of events and activities for RUOK Week, with a focus on connection, belonging and looking out for our mates. Here’s a recap of the week.
Monday 7 September – Year 12 Wellbeing Workshop
The week began with our Year 12 students taking part in a dedicated Understanding Anxiety workshop. Students enjoyed some pizza while learning practical strategies from our Wellbeing Team to support their mental health and wellbeing as they approach the end of the school year. A summary of the strategies shared during this session can be viewed below.
Tuesday 8 September – Staff vs Students Basketball
Tuesday saw students and staff go head-to-head in a fun and competitive basketball match. The lunchtime game was a great opportunity to bring different members of our school community together, with plenty of energy, laughter and friendly competition. Congratulations to the students on winning this highly competitive game!
Wednesday 9 September – Lunchtime Connection Activities
Wednesday focused on creating relaxed opportunities for students to connect with others. Students could take part in making friendship bracelets, mindfulness colouring and board games, providing something for everyone and encouraging students to spend time together and connect.
Thursday 10 September – Breakfast Club & Lunchtime BBQ
We wrapped up the week with a special RU OK themed Breakfast Club before school, followed by a free BBQ at lunchtime. Both events were well attended and provided another opportunity for students and staff to come together, catch up with friends and enjoy being part of our school community.
R U OK? Week was a great reminder that connection and belonging matter. Looking out for our mates, checking in with someone and making an effort to include others are small actions that can make a big difference; not just during R U OK Week, but every day.
A huge thank you to our Wellbeing Team, Student Leaders, staff and students for helping make the week such a positive celebration of our BHS community.
Year 12 Wellbeing Workshop - Key Notes - Applicable to ALL Students
Understanding Anxiety
The Year 12 Wellbeing Workshop focused on managing anxiety and looking after mental health, with students exploring a range of practical strategies and ideas.
What was covered:
Stress vs. anxiety vs. panic – Students learned to tell these apart: stress builds gradually from a clear trigger and eases once it's resolved, while anxiety is more persistent worry about an uncertain future. Panic is a sudden spike that peaks within about 10 minutes. All three can share physical symptoms like a racing heart and tight chest.
Coping strategies for exams – Drawing on the Yerkes-Dodson law, students learned that a little anxiety can actually boost performance; it's only unhelpful in excess. The key takeaway was that exam anxiety is a normal, trainable response, not a character flaw. Strategies included reframing anxious thoughts, slow breathing and grounding techniques, prioritising sleep over cramming, and using retrieval and spaced practice to reduce anxiety at its source.
Self-care – Students explored the "what, how and why" of self-care: noticing what they need, choosing activities that recharge them, and understanding that self-care helps them manage life's demands and function at their best.
Coping with change and the future – Using the metaphor of transition as "a series of hills," students discussed signs that someone might need extra support, including changes in mood, behaviour, relationships, appetite, sleep, or thinking.
The key message – Students were reminded that they are not alone, help is always available at school and beyond, and looking after wellbeing is an ongoing process. They were encouraged to reflect on one thing they can do this week to support their own mental health.
A big thank you to our Wellbeing Team for providing such a valuable and practical session for our Year 12 students and to all of our students who took the opportunity to get involved.
Wear Your Team Colours Day
It was wonderful to see our students and staff take the opportunity to wear their team colours last Friday! Another student-led initiative, the dress-up day encouraged students to show their passion for their favourite team and bring their rivalries to school. The day was held in conjunction with the Canteen’s Finals Footy Fever special menu, with everyone’s favourite footy foods served up at recess and lunch. A big thank you to our Canteen team for their wonderful offerings, and to all the students and staff who got involved and helped create such a fun and spirited day!
Matthew Hosking - Student Voice & Leadership