Sowing the SEADs of Success

From the Assistant Principal: Wellbeing & Engagement

Building good habits 

Given we are now more than halfway through Term 1, I have had many discussions with girls about continuing to develop good habits and how healthy habits can help with our physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing. 

A habit is something we do regularly without thinking about it. We form positive habits, such as going to be early, eating fruit and vegetables every day, or taking time out to destress. We also form negative habits, sleeping with a mobile phone in our rooms at night, not eating breakfast or not prioritising the things that matter most. 

One of the key habits for success in school is regular attendance at every lesson. Consistent attendance helps students maintain their academic progress, fosters positive relationships with teachers and peers, and instils a sense of responsibility towards their education. I encourage you to help students establish a routine of arriving to school on time and being present every day.

Effective study skills are another critical habit for success in school. This can include setting aside dedicated time for homework and studying each night – by Year 11 students should be studying up to two or three hours a night and over the weekend for success. It can also include creating a suitable study environment at home, whether it is a desk in the main area of the house or in a study to facilitate optimal learning. By focusing on these habits, your child can complete their homework, retain information more effectively, and be better prepared for exams and tests. If students come home with no homework, reading a book for 20 minutes is encouraged. 

Time management is another important habit that can contribute to success in school. Encourage your child to prioritise their tasks, make a schedule using a graphic organiser, outlook calendar or a study planner and then stick to it. By managing their time effectively, they can ensure they complete their work on time, avoid stress and burnout, and have time for cocurricular activities, socialising and relaxation.

Good sleep is also essential for success in school. Adequate sleep is crucial for physical and mental wellbeing and can greatly impact a student's ability to concentrate, retain information, and perform well in school and life. Encourage your child to establish a regular sleep routine and aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Keeping screens out of bedrooms is also important to avoid the distraction of checking a snapchat message at midnight or being the first thing girls are looking at in the morning. 

For extra reading on building and maintaining healthy habits, I recommend the book, Atomic Habits by James Clear. 

Events

Congratulations to all the girls who participated in the Head of the River last weekend. It was a wonderful event and Loreto spirit was very much on display. Thank you to our Head Coach, Dario, Rowing Coordinator, Matt and our rowing coaches, Esther, Leo, Grace, Grace and Seamus who have supported our girls all season. Also thanks to our wonderful parents and parent committee who have contributed many, many hours to make the season a success. 

Yesterday, we had a great Year 7-12 Swimming Carnival with much colour and spirit again. Congratulations to the winning house and all the girls for their attendance and effort throughout the day. 

Anna Partridge

Assistant Principal: Wellbeing and Engagement 

From the Psychological Service

In Week 7, the Psychological Service presented to the year 12 cohort on self-care. Self-care is defined as “a process of purposeful engagement in strategies that promote healthy functioning and enhance well-being,” Dorociak et al., (2017).​ The presentation included information self-care and its benefits, how to support others whilst maintaining your self-care and who students can reach out to if they need additional support. During the SEAD lesson the year 12s completed and reviewed their self-care plans. 

This year the Psychological Service is hosting two mental health parent forums at the College on ‘Navigating your teen's mental health’ (Years 7 to 12) with Black Dog Institute and ‘Body Confident Children and Teens’ (Years R to 12) with Butterfly Foundation. 

To register, see details below. We look forward to seeing you there. 

If you have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the Classroom Teacher, or Head of Junior School and Early Learning Centre, or the relevant Leader of Student Wellbeing and Academic Care, or Mentor/Subject Teacher in the Senior School. You also are encouraged to seek medical or professional help if necessary. 

Monica Bignold

Lead College Psychologist R-12 

Parent Information Sessions - Black Dog Institute & Butterfly Foundation

Black Dog Institute: Thursday 11 May, 6-7pm, online

This presentation from the Black Dog Institute will educate parents and carers in supporting their young person to increase mental health literacy, reduce stigma and promote help seeking.

Link to the zoom presentation is in the flyer below. Password: 249 038

Butterfly Foundation: Wednesday 21 June, 5.30 - 7pm, PAC

Join Rachel Soderstrom from the Butterfly Foundation for a presentation on body image and self confidence. The seminar will provide knowledge, practical information and tips on promoting positive body image, the power of role modelling, reducing appearance-based talk and how to respond when a child expresses negative body image.

To register: https://events.humanitix.com/loreto-body-confident-seminar 

Life in Boarding 

We showcased Loreto Boarding at the previous South East Field Days which occurred on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 March. It is always wonderful to catch up and reminisce with Loreto Old Scholars and current families during the Regional Agricultural Field Days. We had many families stop in to have a chat and share stories of their Loreto Boarding experience during the two days. Thankyou to Clare Kuchel, member of the Boarding Parent Representative Committee for spending the day with Laura and myself on Sunday to help out. 

The Field Days across the country offer a meaningful opportunity for Loreto Boarding Community. Our intention is to re-engage and connect with all families at these events, and share a light meal/drinks during the event. Below is a link to register your interest in a community catch-up for the remaining Field Days in 2023 or as a way to notify us if you are in the area at the time. By registering you are also helping Loreto Boarding Community stay connected.

Loreto will be at the following Field Days is 2023:

• Riverland: 15 & 16 September
• Yorke Peninsula: 26 – 28 September

Register here:

https://events.humanitix.com/loreto-old-scholars-field-day-events

Ms Kerry Houston

Director of Boarding