From the Leader of Wellbeing

From the Leader of Wellbeing

Student Leadership at MSCW

During Community time on Wednesday, May 4, Year 11 gathered to commence their journey into the MSCW Student Leadership process.

Dr Anne Ireland spoke with them about Mary as a model of servant leadership and connected this with our Marist Compass, which the students have been engaging with since their journey at MSCW through ‘Developing a Compass for Life’.

Dr Ireland engaged the students by focusing on the following key points:

  • Message
  • Action
  • Reach Out AND
  • Your Legacy

Miss Gemma Muller addressed the students about setting themselves and the community up for success and the importance of setting the coordinates right on our Marist Compass.

Parent Evening with Dr Wayne Warburton

The Links Between Social Media Use, Brain Development and Emotional Regulation (hosted by Marist Catholic College North Shore)

Marist Catholic College North Shore kindly extends an invitation to the parents of Sydney Catholic Schools students to attend a presentation by Dr Wayne Warburton* on Wednesday 11 May 2022.

Dr Wayne Warburton is a psychologist and Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology at Macquarie University. He has spoken to numerous educators and parents over the last 15 years, particularly related to media use. This presentation has a particular focus on the links between social media use, brain development and emotional regulation.

The presentation will take place on Wednesday 11 May from 5.30 PM – 7.00 PM. Parents are welcome to attend the presentation onsite at the College or connect via livestreaming. Please note, that there will be limited seating available onsite, with a maximum of two (2) seats per family on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please see this flyer containing the link to RSVP. Once RSVPs have been received, the link to the livestream will be sent out a few days prior to the event. 

 

* Wayne is an Associate Professor in Developmental Psychology at the Macquarie University Department of Psychology and is also a registered psychologist. Prior to academia, Wayne had a long history of working with vulnerable and low-income clients, most notably those with financial/gambling problems.

Wayne has also been (and is) an advocate for vulnerable and low-income Australians, including on bodies such as the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman Governing Council and the Electricity and Water Ombudsman of NSW Board.

Wayne is passionate about teaching that inspires students, research which can be used for social benefit and communicating that research to parents, policymakers and professionals who work with children and teens. (source)

Resilience Project Parent Engagement Evening 

The month of May has often been referred to as ‘Mindful May’ or ‘Joyful May’. 

During May, Year 8 students engage in the Resilience Project as part of the MSCW Wellbeing Program. This program is grounded in evidence-based mental health strategies to build resilience in young people. It is designed around three (3) key pillars, proven to cultivate positive emotion, gratitude, empathy and mindfulness (GEM), whilst incorporating practical strategies for your daughters to practise in everyday life, to explore how we can better empower our own young people to be more resilient.

To be held on Wednesday 11 May 2022, the Resilience Project Parent  Engagement Webinar aims to develop your understanding of the mental health issues young people are facing today. As well as provide strategies to support parents in raising a resilient adolescent. 

The webinar will be hosted by The Resilience Project Founder, Director and Facilitator Hugh van Cuyenburg who will cover the following:

  • Equipping parents with simple, practical tools to look after their own wellbeing
  • Current mental health statistics from across the country, and explaining the importance of prevention in changing this narrative (especially for children)
  • Provide insights into the GEM (gratitude, empathy and mindfulness) model – the evidence-based principles your daughters are being taught as part of The Resilience Project to feel happier and build their resilience
  • Focus on developing parent confidence when having positive wellbeing discussions with your family.

To register your interest in attending The Resilience Project Parent Engagement Webinar, please follow the Resilience Project Webinar link. Upon registration, registrants will receive a link to attend the webinar, along with a reminder the day prior. The webinar will commence at 6.00 PM and run till 8.30 PM AEST.

Please note that the webinar will include parents from The Resilience Project’s partnership schools. If you have any further questions regarding this evening, please contact Miss Gemma Muller, Assistant Leader of Wellbeing.

2022 MSCW The Resilience Project Parent Presentation Flyer

Body Image – The Butterfly Foundation

The teenage years can be fun but they’re also a period when we’re particularly vulnerable to body image concerns. Young people are developmentally inclined to compare themselves to others, but this drive is intensified by external influences, including the constant presence of social media that showcases unrealistic body ideals.

Dr Justin Coulson, one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts, says developing body acceptance can help teens build self-confidence. A positive body image can also lead to improved mental and physical health in later life.

There are ways parents and carers can support young people’s growth in this area. Dr Coulson sat down with Sam Ikin from The Butterfly Foundation to share some ideas. 

SchoolTV

As a result of the global pandemic, there has been a noticeable shift in the amount of time people spend on screen-based devices. Families are transitioning back to pre-COVID routines but many are still struggling to re-establish the boundaries and rules around screen use. Some continue to deal with digital conflict and tech tantrums on a daily basis. The latest research found that 77% of teenagers spend more than five (5) hours on screens per day, but it is important to note that not all screen time is considered equal.

Parents play a crucial role in modelling a positive and healthy approach to using screens and assisting children to navigate the content they watch. It is better to model and mentor screen use, rather than monitor it. Children tend to do more of what they see us do, and less of what we tell them to do. However, it is still important to outline the risks and highlight the benefits of screen use to ensure you keep a balanced attitude. Encourage discussions around the issues that people experience in monitoring their screen time and be honest about your own difficulties.

Parents need to remain firm in their approach to managing screen time. Excessive screen time can be detrimental to a child’s overall wellbeing. Ensuring the correct privacy settings are in place is vital to prevent children from being inadvertently exposed to inappropriate content or online predators. Parents need to also be mindful of the potential impact screen time can have on a child’s social, emotional, educational, behavioural and even physical domains.

In this edition of SchoolTV, caregivers will be provided with a range of guidelines and strategies to help manage screen time at home. We hope you take the time to reflect on the information offered in this month’s edition and we always welcome your feedback.

If you have any concerns about your daughter, please contact her House Coordinator or the College Counsellors for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to this week’s edition of SchoolTV. SchoolTV can also be accessed in COMPASS via the grey Favourites icon (star) at the top-middle of the home page.

Marist COMPASS Goals

Have you checked in with your daughter in relation to her Marist COMPASS Goals this term?

Some questions to ask:

  • Can you remind me of your academic goal for this year?
  • With the feedback you have from your engagement in class, assessments, classwork and quizzes, can you tell me how you think you have been progressing with the goal?
  • It is fantastic to hear that you have reflected on your progress and can tell me what you have developed and the areas you need to put more energy into. Is there anything that I/we can do to help you continue to grow?
  • What about your personal goal, how is that coming along?

 

Ms Angela Bowland, Leader of Wellbeing

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