From the Leader of Wellbeing

Year 8 – The reality of VAPING and other substances

Year 8 were educated in the reality of vaping and other substances, such as alcohol, by presenter Tom Reynolds from Independent Drug Education Australia. Students were asked to submit questions last week that they would like answers to and Tom covered these during his presentation and ensured he answered the questions that he had not at the end. By using real world examples of individuals their age that experienced what many believe ‘won’t happen to me’ every student left with a lot to reflect on. 

If your daughter is in Year 8, this weekend would be the ideal time to start a conversation about vaping and other substances. You could start by asking some of the following questions:

I read that you had a person called Tom Reynolds out to speak with all year 8 this Wednesday. 

• What did he talk about?

• Tell me one thing that he said that surprised you.

• Did it come up with your friends at recess or lunch? 

• What did they think about it? 

• Have you seen people your age vaping/drinking alcohol?

• What would you do if you were in a situation where someone become ill? (passed out, said they were really dizzy, started to have trouble breathing, vomited, said their heart was racing and started to sweat)

We pray that Year 7 2023 & the staff accompanying them 

have a joyful and safe time 

building positive relationships grounded in RESPECT

developing bonds that make them all  

‘Sisters for Life’

‘Sisters for Life’

To be a ‘sister’ is to have a relationship with another, a relationship, or connection if you like, that is authentic and positive. A ‘sister’  has your ‘back’ and is there through ‘thick and thin.’ A ‘sister’ wants what is best for you. 

What is best for you is not what you desire, as it can seem too challenging and we are more attracted to what is easy.

To be a ‘sister’  is to empower self and others. Through celebrating, supporting and cheering one another on.

To be a ‘sister’  is to have courage  in self and inspire courage in others. To know one’s worth and the value of others.  

To be a ‘sister’  is to respect self and others. Demonstrating dignity of all through one’s actions that shines a light on the gifts of self and others, embracing inclusion of all. 

Let the community, the ‘sisters’, of Marist Sisters’ College be reminded, encouraged and inspired to live Jesus’ Commandment of Love that is modelled for them by the adults, from both home and school, who give witness to a positive, respectful and inclusive love.

I know that MSCW have modelled how to be a ‘sister’ today by:

• empowering her to be assertive
• using respectful and inclusive language
• encouraging her to engage with her learning
• setting a standard that is achievable and respectable
• holding her accountable for her actions towards others
• providing her with safety to feel uncomfortable, to make mistakes
• holding her responsible when she has been disrespectful to others and the College 
• listening to her and guiding her to take the challenging path and act in her best interest
• supporting her skill development in problem solving, navigating through conflict with dignity and respect maintained for all involved

Find out more:

• The hard-to-have conversations | eSafety Commissioner

In this edition of SchoolTV – RESPECTFUL LANGUAGE

In today’s world, it is common to hear socially offensive language on the streets, on social media channels, streaming services and in some forms of modern music. While swearing is becoming more common and less taboo, the use of derogatory language or the act of swearing at someone, or about someone, is a form of verbal violence. It transgresses the usual rules of social interaction by impinging on an individual’s self-image and sense of dignity. It is becoming apparent that some young people are being influenced by the language they hear. Proliferating the use of swear words can sometimes normalise, glamorise and desensitise their impact for kids who may misunderstand the true meaning of some derogatory terms. Whilst some students may use swearing or derogatory terms as a misguided attempt at belonging, others may use it simply because they are still learning how to moderate their language and are not accustomed to making adjustments to suit different situations. Although many schools enforce a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to swearing and derogatory language, parents need to also play an important part in enforcing this approach. Parents and carers can be proactive in monitoring what their children are viewing or being exposed to. Discussing the use of words or the origin of some derogatory terms and gaining insight into the reason behind their child’s use of such language can help prevent inappropriate or disrespectful language filtering into the classroom or the school yard, which in turn helps to build more tolerant, safe and connected communities. This edition of SchoolTV offers a number of guidelines to help manage a suitable approach when discussing the importance of respectful language. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to the School Refusal edition of SchoolTV
Respectful Language| Marist Sisters’ College – Woolwich