STRONG MINDS, 

GENTLE HEARTS

Accessing Support 

As students head towards the end of term and begin their end-of-term exams, it is timely to remind them and their parents of the support that can be accessed if, and when, it is needed. Central to the Marist charism are the words of St Marcellin Champagnat "for those of greatest need".  

Support is provided through a sense of collaboration between staff, students and parents, under-pinned by clear pastoral care and behaviour management structures based on the Marist charism. 

Support is provided by key personnel including: 

• Homeroom teachers 
• Classroom teachers 
• Heads of year 
• College counsellors 
• Deputy Principal 

Heads of year create supportive professional relationships with students to identify, monitor and regularly touch base with students at risk. Our counsellors can also be accessed, as necessary. It is vital that students do not feel alone in their studies. The highs and lows that can be experienced, not just during exam time, but at any point throughout their learning, can be emotionally draining. 

I hope by reminding everyone of the support that is on offer, we can work together to end the term on a positive note. 

Collecting Your Son After School 

Often boys are left waiting either in the College grounds or outside the school until 5pm or later.  Please note that supervision is only provided on Scott Streetuntil 3:45pm. There is no supervision provided in the College grounds for day students after school. Please make suitable arrangements for your son to be picked up or met by 3:45pm if he does not have supervised school commitments beyond that time. Alternatively, students may do their homework or study in the Gildas Centreuntil 4:45pm Monday-Thursday.  

Stop-Drop-Go Zone

Thank you for continuing to adhere to the following guidelines in relation to the Stop-Drop-Go Zone which makes the process of dropping and picking up your sons significantly safer. 

• Continually moving forward in the zone. 
• Picking up your son 10 -15 minutes after the bell.  
• Picking him up from Barlow Park. 
• Not entering the bus zone. 
• Keeping the signed area between the bus and Stop-Drop-Go Zone clear. 
• taking the looping option of right into Draper, Spence, Severin and Scott when zone is full. 

Please Note: the Stop-Drop-Go Zone is closed on Wednesdays until 2:40pm to allow school sport buses to return our students and staff safely to the College. 

Follow-up

As a follow-up from the last newsletter, Kirra Pendergast from Safe on Social has some excellent advice for parents regarding vaping and social media in the link below or go to our Counselling Connections page in this newsletter.

Vapes and Social media – What parents can do