Supporting Our Children with Responsible Use of Social Media

Given the high volume of students who utilise the plethora of social media platforms, it is timely given the upcoming extended holiday to remind parents that if their child is experiencing any issues via these platforms, parents and students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the following websites:

https://www.esafety.gov.au/

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

These sites contain a range of resources for both parents and students, along with security and reporting information.

Given the 24/7 access students have to social media platforms, as educators and parents, we need to make every effort to ensure our children are using these platforms in a responsible and respectful manner. Evidence suggests that during extended holiday periods when children are experiencing significant downtime from their regular activities, there is a spike in social media usage.

Please be vigilant with respect to your childrens usage of social media as a means of remaining connected with their peers during the holiday period.

To ensure children continue to feel connected while having a break from their regular schedules, you may consider some of the following:

* Encourage regular physical activity away from screen time

* Face to face catch ups with their friends

* Regular family activities

*Visiting relatives or grandparents

* Joining holiday activity programs

* Encouraging responsibilities within the household

Financial Services support for those experiencing family violence.

If any members of our school community are experiencing family or domestic violence, help is available: contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732, a 24 hour, free support service.

Many of the banks, including Bank Australia and Bank First, provide support to those experiencing family violence, To access free financial counselling advice, ring the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007. Financial counsellors provide advice and support about managing debts.

The Commonwealth bank has the following program. Please check with your own banks for support if required:

If you or someone you know is in an unsafe domestic violence situation and you have been with the Commonwealth Bank for more than 6 months, you have access to a Domestic and Family Violence Grant.

You receive $1000 in VISA cards to use for accommodation or bond for a new place of residence and $500 Coles voucher for food and a little phone to put your sim in, in case your abuser has your phone tracked. They will post it to any SAFE address you give them, and they will also get you in touch with counselling services.

This could potentially save a life, so please share this information with the people that you know.

https://www.commbank.com.au/support/dv-assistance.html

End-of-Year Arrangements

During the last week of the term (17th to 20th December), the College will not be holding formal classes and an alternative program will be running.

Should circumstances make it impossible for students to attend this program, we ask that parents/guardians inform the College of any absences using Compass or by contacting the General Office directly.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the College on 9561 5811.

Leadership Camp

On the 6th and 7th December, the student leaders for 2019 were able to participate in a Leadership camp. College Captains, House Captains, Arts Captains, Middle School Leaders, Peer Support Leaders and Student Voice Representatives were able to participate in morning sessions at the school to help them start their planning for their roles in 2019. We thank the staff who ran these sessions with the students - Ms Hodgkinson, Ms Lay, Ms Lentini, Miss McMahon, Ms Palmer, Ms Pryde and Mrs Robinson. Once at the camp, students persisted despite the hot weather to participate in a range of activities designed to develop their leadership skills, such as a high ropes course to allow students to challenge themselves to overcome their fears and demonstrate their teamwork skills by showing support for their peers on the course. A particular highlight was the raft-making activity, where students were given a limited amount of time and materials to design and create a raft that could carry students down a river. This tested students' ability to negotiate with each other, reach a group decision and allocate roles so that everything could be accomplished in the given time. We were also able to run leadership sessions with the students, including activities on the power and importance of student voice and different styles of leadership. Thank you to the staff who attended this camp - Ms Barrie, Ms Hodgkinson, Ms Jepson, Miss McMahon, Ms Palmer and Mr Shepherd. We look to forward to seeing the impact our leaders will have next year!

A Holiday Poem

Tis the week before Christmas, we're all going nuts;

With so much to do, there's no ifs, ands or buts.

Buy presents, hang tree lights, pop cards in the mail,

Send gift packs, thread popcorn, find turkeys on sale.

Decorations need stringing up all through the house.

And you haven't a clue what to buy for your spouse.

School concerts, receptions, open houses with friends,

Long line-ups, short tempers, tying up the loose ends.

Take time for yourself-though hard as that seems—

Enjoy your kids' laughter, excitement and dreams.

Take a moment out now, don't get overly riled,

Instead make an angel in sand with your child.

The shortbread can wait, and so can the tree;

What's important to feel is a child's sense of glee.

The holidays aren't about push, rush and shove;

They're for friendship and sharing and family love.

Hear the bells, feel the warmth, light up with the glow

Of a message first sent to us so long ago:

Peace, love and goodwill, and hope burning bright.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

(With apologies to Clement Clark Moore)

Wishing all of our College community a safe and enjoyable holiday season.

Mrs Judy Anderson & Mr Andrew Dixon

Assistant Principals

What's Coming Up Next

December

14th

17th

18th

19th

20th

January 30th 2019