Year 9

Year 9

This term during Luminary sessions, Year 9 will complete the Teens and Screens program Being Online: Maximising the Good, Minimising the Bad, developed by youth mental health experts at the Black Dog Institute using data from their Future Proofing Study of adolescent mental health.

The program is designed to support adolescent wellbeing in a digital world, and aims to equip students with the tools to:

          • Recognise the positive and negative aspects of being online.
          • Understand the different ways young people engage in the online world.
          • Explore how certain platforms can affect mental health and well-being.
          • Learn how technology companies use persuasive design to keep users engaged.
          • Develop strategies to enhance positive online experiences and reduce potential harms.

While concerns about the negative impacts of being online are widespread, research shows the reality is more complex. The program encourages students to reflect on how to build positive online habits and navigate challenges effectively. We invite you to continue this important conversation with your daughter at home to reinforce the strategies they’ve learned.

On this webpage, you will also find additional resources for families, including:

  • A webinar for parents and carers offering deeper insights into the relationship between young people, screen use, and mental health.
  • A detailed report of the findings on adolescents and screen use from the Future Proofing Study.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact myself or reach out to your daughter’s Luminary.

Getaway Breakout Space in SC101

Starting this Term 3, the Learning Enhancement Department have introduced ‘Getaway’, an alternative space available to students during break times and before school. This initiative will be piloted throughout Term 3. Students may utilise this space as an alternative to the playground. Members of the Learning Enhancement Team have generously volunteered their time to support this initiative and will be present to offer guidance on upcoming assignments, exams, and homework. The space will function both as a drop-in centre for some students and as a sustained quiet environment for others.

Students are expected to be respectful and considerate of diverse needs, as students who attend Getaway will do so for a variety of reasons.

Getaway will operate:

Before school Monday and Tuesday: 7.45am – 8.15am

Recess: Wednesday and Thursday

Lunch: every day

– Emily Marsh
 Head of Year 9