The Anchor

Whole School

From the Communication Prefect

Last week, the Year Twelve students had their Semester One exams. It’s always a bit of a strange time during this period. We spend so little time at school, and by the end of it, the idea of going to class and not being home by 12.30pm seems foreign. I don’t mind exams. I have a good memory, so my brain works very well in remembering concepts and ideas. In my opinion, they seem to be testing your memory rather than your knowledge. You can understand a concept easily, but remembering it seems to be the most difficult task in exams. 

 

After speaking to my sister, who is 21 and living in Melbourne (and constantly snapping in and out of lockdown), the fact that three-hour intensive exams are not actually common beyond school, was made clear to me. She still has her work cut out for her, but she has not completed an exam of that structure since being in school. It fascinated me that school kids were being put under more intense test conditions than university students. 

 

The exams were full on and I think I can safely say that we Year Twelve students are very glad to be finished with these first set of exams. One down, two to go!

 

Lucy Bonnin | Communication Prefect

From the Counsellor

To say I’m feeling chuffed is a bit of an understatement. Why? This week marked the final class of teen Mental Health Training for Year Eight students – I have had the distinct pleasure and I would even assert honour to have now met and trained the entire cohorts of Year Ten (Term One) and Year Eight. As you know this training is embedded in the Health Education Curriculum and covers the following important areas: 

  • What is a healthy mind?
  • The mutually influential relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviours
  • The difference between a mental health problem and a crisis and the differing response options
  • Early intervention
  • Help seeking
  • Stigma and its corrosive effects
  • tMHFA Action Plan
  • How to maintain your friendship

One of the distinct highlights which emerged from this year’s training for Year Eight students was the acapella renditions of “Look, Ask, Listen, Help Connect with an Adult, Your Friendship is Important” – the MHFA Action Plan. I believe my last class, Ms Smith’s Health Ed Year Eight A were the winners with their hearty and explosive rendering, although this may be to do with the recency effect. 

 

The students take home their training manual and I would encourage families and carers to check out the content and presentation within, and to continue these crucial conversations around mental health and thriving. 

 

Pivoting to another topic, though not unconnected, I was fortunate to view an excellent webinar last week from Linda Stade and Michelle Mitchell, titled Helping Your Daughter Navigate Friendships. Linda Stade is a respected figure in this space and can be further researched here: Helping Your Daughter To Navigate Friendships - Linda Stade Education. 

 

This webinar investigated Relational Aggression among girls and the importance of the power of the need to belong. Linda Stade addressed her presentation to parents. She observes that the enormous need to fit in can trump an individual’s empathy and kindness, as establishing one’s power in the social hierarchy is the primary need. The link above elucidates this clearly. 

 

Michelle Mitchell offered her wise mind approach in the second half of the webinar where she directed her information to the girls via offering a framework or a thinking companion for girls which includes the importance of such practices as pushing back with truth, being honest, perspective taking. Home | Michelle Mitchell offers more wisdom for middle schoolers. 

 

Ms Sheryl Moncur | Counsellor

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