From the Deputy Principal

Continuing the Conversation: How Families Can Support Wellbeing at Home

On Tuesday 5 May, our Year 8 students spent the day exploring some of the most important topics of adolescence: resilience, identity, healthy relationships, and emotional wellbeing - through our Focus Day program. While the workshops and activities were designed to spark thinking and build skills, the real growth often happens when those conversations continue at home in conjunction with follow up at the school level. 

Families are the most consistent presence in a young person's life. When the themes explored at school are picked up at home, even briefly, the impact goes much further. Here are some simple ways to stay connected to your daughter even in the car ride to a sports event or home, over dinner or a quiet evening with no digital distractions.  

• Ask open questions: Rather than "How was your day?", try something more specific: "Was there anything that surprised you today?" or "Did anything come up that you're still thinking about?" Adolescents often need a moment before they're ready to talk. Leaving space and even sitting quietly together, signals that you're available without pressure.

• Share your own stories: When students hear that the adults in their lives have also navigated self-doubt, friendship challenges, or difficult decisions, it normalises their experience. You don't need to have all the answers. In fact, saying "I remember finding that really hard too" can be more powerful than advice.

• Reinforce the language of feelings: Encouraging our students to name and understand their emotions and not just say they're "fine" or "stressed” is another useful way to reinforce what healthy relationships and emotional regulation looks and feels like. Families can support this by using the same kind of language at home: "That sounds really frustrating" or "What do you think you need right now?" These small shifts build emotional vocabulary that serves them well after the conversation and beyond the classroom.

• Make space for imperfection: One of the core messages of our wellbeing program is that resilience isn't about never struggling, rather, it's about knowing how to get back up. Families can reinforce this by celebrating effort over outcome, allowing mistakes to be learning moments, and modelling what it looks like to try something even when it feels risky.

• Stay curious about their world: You don't need to understand everything about your teenager's social landscape to show genuine interest. Asking about their friendships, what they enjoy, or what feels hard right now sends a clear message: I see you, and I'm here.

While this information is useful to all parents/carers, if you are looking for conversation starters after the Year 8 Focus Day, consider asking:

• "What's one thing you talked about on the day that stuck with you?"

• "Is there anything you'd like to do differently, or keep doing after these workshops?"

• "What does looking after yourself look like for you?"

Year 8 can be “the year” that can feel particularly intense, for students and families alike. Friendships shift, issues are being figured out, and the pressure to fit in while also standing out can be exhausting. It's normal for this to show up at home too, in mood changes, withdrawal, or moments of frustration that seem to come from nowhere. You are not alone in finding it hard to know how to help. Support is available through our wellbeing team, clan teachers, Heads of House and our College counsellor, and programs exactly like this one - reaching out is always welcome, no matter how big or small the concern feels. 

Together, we can help our young people feel seen, supported, and ready to take on whatever comes next.

Attendance - Every Day Counts

Why regular attendance is one of the most powerful gifts you can give your child's education.

When your daughter walks into school each morning, something important begins, lessons build on lessons, friendships deepen and confidence grows. The seemingly small act of showing up consistently is, in fact, one of the strongest foundations a child can have.

More Than Just Missing a Lesson

Each absence doesn't just mean one missed lesson it means a gap in a continuous story of learning. Topics in maths, reading, and science are deliberately sequenced, where often each concept builds on the last. When a student misses a step, the next one becomes harder and over time, these gaps compound, and catching up becomes increasingly difficult.

Beyond curriculum, school is a social world. Regular attendance helps children build and maintain friendships, develop communication skills, and feel that they belong. Children who are frequently absent can find it harder to reconnect socially, which can in itself become a reason to avoid school and a cycle families and schools want to prevent together.

Practical Steps for Strong Attendance

1. Establish a strong morning routine. For younger children: consistent wake times, uniforms ready, and a prepared bag the night before reduce friction and make the school morning smoother for everyone. For older children and adolescents ensuring they have a prepared bag with timetabled lessons prepared for and lunch organised are steps towards an easier morning.

2. Reserve appointments for outside school hours. Where possible, schedule medical, dental, and other appointments before school, after school, or during holidays. It makes a real difference across the year.

3. Talk positively about school at home. Expressing genuine interest in what they're learning and who they're spending time with builds enthusiasm and a sense of belonging.

4. Take anxiety and reluctance seriously and seek support early. If your child is regularly hesitant to attend, speak with their class or clan teacher or the school counsellor. Early conversations are far more effective than waiting for the problem to grow.

5. Communicate openly with the school. If your family is going through a difficult time, let us know. We are here to support you. Knowing what's happening helps us provide the right care for your daughter.

When School Feels Hard: Adolescence and Attendance 

Adolescence is, by its very nature, a time of upheaval. Shifting friendships, growing academic pressure, can make school feel overwhelming, even for young people who previously loved it. For some adolescents this shows up as reluctance: the Monday morning stomach aches, the repeated requests to stay home. For others it can escalate into school refusal, where attending feels genuinely impossible. This is rarely about laziness or defiance but more often it signals anxiety or social and emotional needs. The longer a young person stays away, the harder returning becomes, as absence quickly erodes confidence and belonging. If you notice your daughter pulling away from school, reach out early. A conversation with their clan teacher, Head of House or College counsellor can make an enormous difference before a pattern takes hold. 

The good news is that attendance is something families and schools can work on together and when we do, the results are real and lasting. We understand that life is complex and that some absences are simply unavoidable. Our goal is never to add to the pressures families already carry but to work alongside you. The CET Attendance Policy is available by clicking on the link below. As a College, we are required to make contact with families when a student's absences reach 10 days, and again at 20 days. We want families to know that these letters are not about blame but they are an opportunity for us to check in, understand what is going on, and work together on a plan. If you would rather not wait until that point, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Resources are also contained on this website https://www.anything.tas.gov.au/