Principal 

Earlier this week we hosted the first of two expert guest speakers who will be at the College this week and next. Dr Michael Carr-Gregg is one of Australia’s best-known and foremost child and adolescent psychologists, and we were fortunate to have him at the College to speak with teachers on Monday afternoon and then with parents that evening. Thank you, Brophy Family and Youth Services, for organising this regional roadshow and bringing Dr Carr-Gregg to Hamilton.

Among Dr Carr-Gregg’s many very good messages for teachers and parents were the truisms that:

• sleep, diet and exercise are the holy trinity supporting wellbeing and academic achievement 
• movement and activity in nature are essential for happiness
• smart phones are deleterious to focus and learning, and sometimes to wellbeing
• supported challenge is good for young people, even those who experience anxiety
• young people need to have an ‘island of competence’ – something they love and are reasonably good at.

The strength of his message is that while these all seem self-evident, Dr Carr-Gregg provides the evidence-base and the proof that these beliefs are actually true and helpful, and not simply gut feel. These messages align very closely with our programs at the College and I think provide an excellent argument for the ongoing relevance of in-person schools in general. Our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program at Junior School, our extensive camps and outdoor learning programs, wide range of College sport, music and other co-curricular offerings, the ban on mobile phones, the opportunities that will be available to students through the development of our Mirranatwa property, for some examples, are all separately worthwhile but are also thoughtfully and purposefully programmed together to give College students the best chance of being happy, and being successful. 

Next Tuesday, in the second of the series, we will host cyber-safety expert Susan McLean. Susan will work with students through a series of workshops during the day, and then present a session for parents and carers starting at 7:00pm in the Simons Auditorium. I am grateful to the Parents’ and Friends’ Association for their support of Susan McLean’s visit; it is a wonderful contribution to the wellbeing and online safety of College students. Together, as a community, we set the conditions in which young people here might flourish, and I’m pleased to have been able to have Michael and Susan contribute their expertise towards that worthwhile pursuit. 

The 7pm session with Susan McLean is a free community event and all College families, friends and local families are invited to attend.  Please register at: https://events.humanitix.com/smcybersafety