Wellbeing 

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL, Wellbeing & Operations

Dear Parents/Guardians,

 

I hope this edition of the College News finds you well.  As we approach the final weeks of the semester, students across all year levels are preparing to complete their final assessments and examinations.  For students in Years 7–9 and Year 12, this will take place within the classroom, while students in Years 10 and 11 will undertake more formal exams.  I encourage both students and parents to engage thoughtfully with the feedback provided on these tasks, using it as a valuable tool for growth and improvement as we head into Semester 2.

 

From a Wellbeing perspective, it has been a positive and productive semester, with a range of initiatives, activities and guest speakers contributing to the vibrant life of the College.  While there is still work to be done in the coming weeks, I know that both staff and students are looking forward to a well-earned break at the end of term.

 

Online behaviour 

In recent days we have become aware of the online behaviour of some of our students. Some of this behaviour is occurring whilst at school (bypassing the College's firewalls by using their own data, or by finding ‘affiliate’ or ‘linked’ websites that are not blocked at the time) but the majority of it is occurring at home, and at times, well into the night or early hours of the morning.

 

As the world continues to integrate technology into everyday life, we are aware of the importance of guiding our girls in using the internet safely, respectfully and responsibly. This is something that we try and do both internally and with guest speakers (experts in the field) as part of our Pastoral Program.

 

While the internet is a powerful educational tool, it also presents a number of risks, especially for young people who are still developing their digital literacy and critical thinking skills.

 

It is essential that students use the internet only for appropriate, educational and purposeful activities.  Accessing inappropriate websites not only poses a risk to their safety and wellbeing, but also undermines the integrity of the learning environment.  In some cases, students are finding ways to access platforms that expose them to adult content, unsafe forums, or harmful interactions.  Such behaviour not only violates school policy, but may also lead to serious emotional, physical and psychological harm.

 

One area of increasing concern is the tendency for young people to ‘friend’ or communicate with individuals they do not know in real life.  These online interactions can appear innocent but may quickly escalate to unsafe territory.  Many predators use social platforms, games and forums to build trust with young users, and students may be unaware of the manipulation involved until it’s too late.  One such site is Omegle.  This website promotes itself as a platform where you can talk to strangers and connects you to random people worldwide.  Teaching your child not to access platforms of this nature, share personal information and not to interact with unknown users online is crucial.

 

We are asking for your support with this. 

 

As parents and guardians, you are your child’s first line of defence when it comes to online safety.  We encourage you to:

  • Have regular conversations with your daughter about what websites and apps she is using
  • Check her device browsing history and ensure her privacy settings are appropriately configured
  • Encourage her to speak up if something online makes her uncomfortable or if she comes across inappropriate material.
  • Set clear rules and expectations around screen time, device use, and appropriate content.
  • Keep devices in shared family areas, particularly for younger students, and avoid unsupervised use late at night.
  • Use parental controls or filtering software to block inappropriate content or limit app use.

To assist you further in having these conversations and supporting safe technology use at home, the following resources can be used:

  • eSafety Commissioner Website https://www.esafety.gov.au/  

    A government-supported site that offers practical tools, reporting mechanisms and advice for parents and students on a wide range of digital issues.

     

  • ThinkUKnow https://www.thinkuknow.org.au/  

    This website, developed by the Australian Federal Police, provides information on how to stay safe online.

     

  • Raising Children Network – Online Safety https://raisingchildren.net.au/

    Offers a range of age-specific articles and tips for digital parenting.

     

  • School TV https://academy.vic.schooltv.me/ 

    A platform provides schools with an extensive range of wellbeing resources for parents, so they can work together in partnership to ensure better wellbeing for all students.

Working together, we can continue to help our students develop the skills they need to navigate the digital world safely, respectfully, and with confidence.  Thank you for your ongoing partnership in ensuring their wellbeing, both offline and online.

 

Uniform - Piercings

While most of our students follow the required protocols and only have one earring in each ear lobe of their ear, a few students have been presenting at school with multiple earrings in each ear as well as nose piercings.  Students are generally given an initial opportunity to remove extra earrings or a nose piercing without too much fuss, they may also be given an infringement on Compass, but in recent times a few students have indicated that these piercings are ‘fresh’ and therefore cannot be removed for 4 – 6 weeks as there is a risk of infection and the hole closing over. 

 

The school policy around earrings and piercings is clearly articulated in many places, including the Student Planners.  Students also sign a Statement of Acknowledgement each year.  We ask for parental support in this matter as we would definitely prefer not to send students home until extra earrings or piercings are removed.

 

Cold and Flu Season & COVID

As we enter the cold and flu season, I’d like to remind all parents to ask their daughters to follow the appropriate health and safety protocols if they are experiencing any symptoms. Maintaining good hygiene—including regular handwashing and sanitising, covering their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, wearing a mask where appropriate, avoiding close contact with others, and staying home if unwell—these measures will help keep our school safe for all and minimise the spread of germs.

Recent media reports have also highlighted a rise in COVID-19 cases, with a new strain currently circulating.  In light of this, we ask that if students contract COVID-19, they only return to school once they:

a) have tested negative, and

b) are asymptomatic.

 

Year 10 Community Action Week

We wish all of our Year 10 students a successful Community Action Week during the last week of this term.  Thank you to Ms Mel Sachanandani for all of her work behind the scenes to ensure all students have a placement.

 

As always, please remember never hesitate to be in touch should you have any queries or concerns.

 

Mr Sam Di Camillo

Deputy Principal - Wellbeing & Operations


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