Year 8

This week marks the commencement of a rigorous assessment period for Year 8 students, which will extend until the conclusion of Week 8. This is a good opportunity for you to check with your daughter to see whether she has developed a study plan to manage her time efficiently. If this is something your daughter encounters any difficulties with, I encourage you to advise her to seek guidance from her Luminary or me. We are committed to providing the necessary support to help her organise herself more effectively.

Additionally, I am pleased to announce the introduction of a new initiative for Chapel services. Each Luminary group will now be responsible for leading and delivering the main speaking parts of the mass. This initiative aims to offer students across the year group the opportunity to participate actively in the service. The primary focus is on encouraging students to step out of their comfort zones and become confident in speaking before large audiences. Leawarra was the first Luminary group to undertake this responsibility, and I am immensely proud of their exemplary organisation and eloquent delivery.

I have observed some minor friendship concerns emerging within the cohort. This week’s year meeting focused on the theme of friendship changes, emphasising the significance of healthy relationships. During the session, students explored ‘green flags’ and ‘red flags’ in friendships and were encouraged to reflect on their current friend dynamics to determine whether they were positive or negative. They were also invited to sit with different peers during breaks to foster inclusivity. The concept of ‘horseshoes rather than circles’ was introduced to promote openness and inclusion in social settings.

During Luminary time on Thursday, Year 8 met with their ‘Big Sisters’ in Year 12 for the last time. Year 8 produced some lovely farewell/good luck cards for their big sisters and celebrated with some food. The photo this week is from the Whitley Big Sisters and Little Sisters.

A note from the Learning Enrichment Department regarding the Athletics Carnival

The following will be in place for any student requiring adjustments to support their participation in the Athletics Carnival. Please refer to this article for more details on transportation.

• A quiet room near the Nurse’s station will be available for students needing an alternate space to take a break. This will be staffed by the Learning Enhancement Department.  
• A staff member from the Learning Enhancement Department will be actively visible throughout the event to support students to participate if required. 
• Students will also have access to First Aid if needed 
• Students should notify their Head of Year before the event if an alternative form of participation needs to be considered. This information will be communicated to the Learning Enhancement Department.

– Kate Schurch 
Year 8