From the Leader of Wellbeing

From the Leader of Wellbeing

This is What it Looks Like

MAINTAIN THE ROUTINE:
  • Go to bed/sleep at the same time as she does during the term and wake at the same time as if they are going to school. Sleeping too much or not enough will put the body clock out of sync and this will have a significant impact when school returns. Why? Because it will take two weeks to ‘settle’ back into the routine and learning starts DAY ONE. In fact, many students have assessments due in the first two weeks of the term.
  • Going to the local library and meeting friends may work best for her. They learn more when they reteach one another and provide one another with feedback.
STUDY TIMETABLE TIP:
  • Your daughter may get all caught up in creating the perfect study plan and spend an exorbitant amount of time getting it just right, using the time that could be spent actually studying. The timetable already exists – it is the exact same one she has been using all this year.  Her school timetable. Keep the structure of the day including start and break times along with the subjects for each day. (Study lessons could be for her to work on the skill she needs to develop the most or if she is completing a major work, investing the time in that).
  • Even if the one-hour ‘lesson’ is halved by the end of the first day, five hours of study will be completed by 3:30 pm, leaving her with the afternoon and evening exercise, sleep, socialise, work or research options for 2023.
  • This will accumulate to 40 hours in the holidays with no study on weekends or public holidays. This is the same as completing 13 exams at three hours each!
PLAN PLAN PLAN:
  • Use the Term Planner (link) to map out upcoming assessment tasks (Assessment Handbooks). She can also factor in special events such as family celebrations, social events, sporting finals, etc.
  • Ask her to share her planner with you as a read-only document via Google and when you are planning events you can refer to this to support her.
WHAT TO STUDY:
  • The Syllabus Dot Points.
  • Past Papers. Students who excel in the Trial and HSC Exams have one thing in common: they practise, practise and practise past papers. A teacher does not have to provide feedback or a mark the doing is the study. She and a friend could do the same question and compare, looking for commendations and offering recommendations. Or they could do different questions and provide constructive feedback for one another. She may start with an open book and as her confidence builds remove the resource. Ultimately by the time the July holidays come around, she should be practising in exam conditions. For example, timing herself to complete parts of a whole exam or a whole exam.
  • Having a slow day? She can use the NESA Multiple Choice Quiz resource that will provide her with instant feedback.
  • Pre-read for the upcoming topic.
  • Develop a glossary and use the words in sentences applied to the content.
  • Create flashcards on actual study cards that can be purchased at Kmart, Target and Officeworks. She may prefer to subscribe to a website. Subscribing can sometimes require signing up and payment but with the membership (only 8 months to go) you can also get access to other members’ flashcards if they are shared. Quizlet is one example that allows individuals to create flashcards online.
  • Review resources on Google Classroom that she may have been absent for when accessed in class. 
  • Look at articles, websites and YouTube clips that she may not have had the chance to follow up and access after class on a few occasions. Some of these may also be on Google Classroom.
  • Most importantly use a variety of different study techniques throughout the day to change things up.
EAT WELL:
  • Eat regularly as she does when at school.
  • Keep a balanced diet – a bit of everything.
  • Stay hydrated.
SLEEP WELL:
MOVE BODY DAILY:
  • Access Youtube to find a 10-15 minute stretch that can be done in the morning or during a break.
  • 5-10 minute walk in the neighbourhood for a brain break where she can listen to music or simply walk the dog, walk to the shops to purchase any supplies needed for lunch.
  • Book a tennis court or go along to an indoor pool, trampoline centre, ice skating rink, do a walk/run or gym session where she can catch up and laugh with friends as they move their bodies.
SELF CARE:
  • Keep a jug with a glass or bottle of water close by as she studies.
  • Place a nicely scented hand cream in her study space so that she can moisture her hands a few times a day.
  • A natural source of light in the room with the flow of fresh air – keep the door open if the house is quiet enough.

  • Social Media Cleanse: post less to do more; refocus on the goal; less time scrolling and more time living; unplug to unwind; delete accounts that do not allow her to access her joy.
  • Delete Apps on her phone she no longer needs/uses.
  • Practice Mindfulness: Smiling Mind meditations, colouring in a design, listening to music.
  • Create: knit, take up a hobby, bake, paint, draw, build, dance, complete a craft kit.
  • Complete a puzzle: At set times throughout the day sit with one another and have a cup of something chat as you co-construct a puzzle.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT VAPING:
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SchoolTV: A Special Report – The Conflict in Ukraine

Around the world, people are saddened and devastated by the events unfolding in Ukraine. Both adults and young people alike are feeling the stresses of war from afar as they experience fear, frustration and helplessness. The 24-hour news cycle has shown us upsetting images, raising many questions, especially for our young people, about what is happening.

Parents and caregivers need to be guided by their child’s curiosity. There is strong evidence to suggest that having a supportive discussion about a stressful event in a developmentally appropriate way, can actually decrease distress. It’s best to ‘name it, to tame it.’ This will also combat any misinformation to which they have most likely already been exposed through social media, pictures or video clips.

Children need to know that they are being taken seriously. So it is recommended that you don’t avoid the difficult questions. Ensure you address their questions honestly and sensitively. With less life experience than adults, young people may need help navigating news about this crisis. Use this is as an opportunity to model and encourage compassionate views towards fellow humans, regardless of distance or circumstance.

Here is the link to the SchoolTV report that offers guidance on how best to discuss the conflict in Ukraine. SchoolTV can also be accessed in COMPASS via the grey favourites star, top-middle of the home page.

Ms Angela Bowland, Leader of Wellbeing

This article on College life meets The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools – Charter #1, #2