From the Acting Deputy Principal
Melanie Sluyters
Only through our connectedness to others can we really know and enhance the self. And only through working on the self can we begin to enhance our connectedness with others.”
Harriet Goldher Lerner
The term has started with a flurry and already we are nearly at the end of week three. What does make these first few weeks hard for all, but especially in the secondary context, is a feeling of not being connected. A new school, new routines, new spaces, new subjects, new staff and new friendships. What may have been familiar is no longer and it takes work to create a sense of belonging. What does make it easier is the establishment of connections - be it with teachers and peers.
Throughout the last couple of weeks we have seen connections grow across the College and this has been especially important for our Year 7 - 10 students as they have embraced a myriad of different activities, structures and learnings - all to ensure connections are made. For our parents this has been a journey and being able to meet with Clan teachers and put a name to a face last week was one of the jigsaw pieces - with many more to come throughout 2023.
Last week connections were also strengthened as our STRIVE program started, Clan photos taken, guest speakers aplenty and most importantly our Opening Mass which provided a connection with not just our whole College community, but our faith.
This week establishing relationships and building on connections is again paramount and witnessed through the involvement of our Year 7 students at their Long Day excursions, our Year 10 Leaders assisting with the Primary Swimming Carnival, celebrating as a community our Ash Wednesday liturgies across the College, our musicians beginning to rehearse and those representing us at sport.
These connections amongst members of our learning community also extended to rich and creative opportunities through the Ethics Olympiad, poetry workshops and normal lessons that have provided all our students with an opportunity to think, engage, discuss, collaborate and respond.
Strong connections within a school environment reinforce the framework of the College and all who comprise it. With these connections our Secondary school students will continue to feel a sense of community and flourish.
Wellbeing Resources for Parents
SchoolTV is saved on our College website under the Community tab and as a College we are a strong supporter of this resource. Because parenting doesn’t come with instructions, SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource implemented at our school to help support you in the challenges of modern-day parenting. Parenting is a learning journey and it’s easy to feel stressed and overwhelmed when faced with raising happy, well and resilient young people today.
Every family has experienced some sort of difficulty or adversity in recent times, some more than others. As mental health concerns continue to rise, there have been some alarming statistics reported in relation to the mental health and wellbeing of young people. Unfortunately, the blueprint for parenting is often based on our own experiences, but this is no longer fit for purpose in raising children as citizens of tomorrow. Parents and caregivers play a vital role in providing the guidance needed to support children and adolescents as they reframe their worries and focus more on the things they can control in their life.
In this Special Report, we are seeking parent participation through a short survey. The survey is designed to provide a barometer to help gauge the state of student wellbeing within our community. We encourage you to take a few moments to complete the survey as this will help our school know the nature and extent of your concerns and determine how best we can support families in the months ahead. Responses remain anonymous and will only be reported on an aggregated basis. You are asked to base your responses on observations made in the last 12 months. A link to the survey can be found HERE
By working together we can continue to build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers as we navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for all students.
It is important to factor in that no one is alone and that sometimes advice from other sources is needed. Below are some suggestions in relation to resources that you may want to explore.
- Reach Out – Click on the link and it will take you to a myriad of resources and information about how to explore different types of learning and provide you with tips on assisting with study techniques, managing distractions and how to talk to your son or daughter. This website mainly focuses on preteens and older but for all parents it is a very good source of information.
- Beyond Blue - This is another great website that provides information and help if required.
- Finally, here is a link to Eddie Jaku’s TedX Talk. Eddie Jaku calls himself ‘the happiest man on Earth’ despite all that he went through during World War 2. Listening to it initially will bring you to tears but as he talks you can’t help but smile.
Some Interesting Reads For All