College Principal report

Congratulations

I would like to start the year by acknowledging and congratulating students from the class of 2021. I would particularly like to acknowledge the following Art/Design and Technology and Performing Arts students on being selected as some of the best young designers, performers and creatives in the state. Please read more about these students in the Art Design and Technology and Performing Arts pages of the newsletter. 

Sabar Tang - Theatre Studies (Design) 

Lucy Tomov - Theatre Studies (Acting)

McKenzie Bliss - Media Studies (Film)

Ruby Van Engelen - Studio Arts (Painting) 

Gemma Newell - Studio Arts (Drawing)

Kai Takagi - Studio Arts (Painting) 

New Staff 2022

I would like to welcome the following new staff to our school in 2022. We had a large turnover last year due to some of our amazing teachers retiring. I am truly grateful to have managed to secure great new staff for our College in 2022. 

Leadership team

Michael McGowan - Acting Assistant Principal (Facilities/Operations/Data/Assessment)

Amy Rashid - Acting Assistant Principal (Teaching and Learning)

Cody Gunn - Leading Teacher (Head of 7-9 Sub School)

Laura Washington - Acting Learning Specialist (Gifted Education and Graduate Teacher Development). 

Vaping

The college is dedicated to contributing not only to the academic progress of students but also to working with parents to develop young people of great character. Across Australian schools, in all sectors, state, private and religious, there is an issue with teens and vaping. In my day there was always a group of kids 'smoking' behind the shelter shed and when I started teaching in the late 90s, the issue of teens and smoking was still prevalent. 

Whilst 11% of the adult population has tried vaping, the number rises to 14% with teenagers. The insidious thing about vaping is that it sold as a 'safer' option, the vaping liquid is flavoured like lollies or food types - gummy bears, skittles, popcorn. Whilst we had over 100 years of research into smoking to understand the dangers, the research on vaping is only in its early stages.

What teens don't realise about vaping is that most e-cigaretts (and the liquid used in them) contains not only nicotine but also potentially chemicals and products such as: 

Acetaldehyde and formaldehyde - These chemicals are known to cause cancer.

Acrolein = A weed killer that can cause irreversible lung damage.

Benzene - A compound found in car exhaust. Long-term exposure may cause blood problems and cancer of blood-forming organs, such as leukemia.

Cadmium - Toxic metal that increases the risk of breathing problems such as chronic obstructive lung disease and emphysema. It’s also found in traditional cigarettes.

Diacetyl - Chemical compound used to give food a buttery flavor. Studies link inhaling it to lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans, also known as “popcorn lung.”

Diethylene glycol - Clear odorless liquid with a sweet taste typically found in industrial products such as antifreeze. It’s used as a base in e-liquids. It’s toxic and is linked to lung disease.

Nickel, tin, lead and other heavy metals - Heavy metal toxicity may damage functioning of lungs, brain, liver, kidneys and other organs.

Nicotine

Propylene glycol - A clear, odorless liquid that’s used as antifreeze and a food addictive. It’s used as a base in e-liquids. It turns to vapor when heated but may produce propylene oxide, a known carcinogen.

https://www.drugwatch.com/e-cigarettes/ingredients/

Autopsy finds man most likely died as a result of vaping 

 7.30/ By Michael Atkin - the ABC

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-21/autopsy-finds-man-most-likely-died-as-a-result-of-vaping/100800004

Queensland man Peter Hansen died of a severe lung injury which was probably caused by a decade of vaping.

Key points:

• Peter Hansen started vaping when he quit smoking
• An autopsy found his death was probably caused by vaping
• Mr Hansen's wife Pam Ashdown says she does not want "his death to be in vain"

7.30 can exclusively reveal the autopsy results for Mr Hansen, conducted at the request of his family following his death in October.

The autopsy found the death of the 71-year-old was due to an acute lung injury, and his condition met most of the criteria for EVALI, a new lung illness emerging among vape or e-cigarette users.

EVALI stands for e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury.

As a school we are taking action on vaping. We have begun an education program with presentations to students in years 8-11. We also will be taking a tough stance on vaping with students caught vaping at school suspended and put through an education program. Those associated with vaping (hanging out with vapers) will also be given a detention and be educated about the risks and dangers. The aim of our school is to create a safe environment for all and to support our students who are struggling to seek help and to improve. 

What parents can do

1. Be educated about vaping
2. Talk to your children about the risks associated with vaping - both medical and legal
3. Seek external support for your child if they are vaping 
4. Encourage your child to speak to you or their Year Level Leader if they are feeling concerned about a friend

Resources to support parents 

Royal Children's Hospital - You Tube Clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwSGPzGxnSY

Lung Foundation Fact Sheet for Parents 

https://lungfoundation.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Factsheet-Vaping-and-Young-People_For-Parents-Jul2021.pdf

Alcohol and Drug Foundation

https://adf.org.au/talking-about-drugs/parenting/vaping-youth/

US Surgeon General Fact Sheet for Parents

https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/documents/SGR_ECig_ParentTipSheet_508.pdf

Quit Victoria 

https://www.quit.org.au/

Federal Health Department 

https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/smoking-and-tobacco/smoking-and-tobacco-contacts