From the Leader of Wellbeing

Year 11 Student Leadership Process 2021

The beginning of the term has certainly been busy as we commenced the Year 11 Student Leadership Orientation this week during Community Time, led by Dr Ireland, Mrs Bloomfield (Year 11 Coordinator) and Ms Gemma Muller (Assistant Leader of Wellbeing). The Year 11 cohort were engaged and responded positively to the various questions and challenges that were delivered in the vein of “what is Marist leadership?” and how does this align with developing a compass for Life?

Following on from the presentation, our aim is to encourage all girls with their gifts and talents to apply, to take ‘courage’ and be ‘empowered’ by their own leadership traits and most importantly, to believe in themselves. This is the time to rise up and take charge! We have advocated to the Year 11 cohort that they are, in their own right, leaders, role models and change agents amongst the broader school community. The question is how have they utilised their strengths in a positive way to make a difference? How do we bring Mary’s story to live life to the full by providing opportunities to ‘think, judge, feel and act’? 

Please have a conversation with your Yr 11 daughters and challenge their thinking in support of their application. This will help to foster deeper reflection and experience the process of discernment which undoubtedly helps to create a greater sense of self-awareness and growth. 

Community Time Week 2

Community time for Year 7 began with The Sleep Connection and the importance in recognising the impact that good sleep patterns as well as poor sleep patterns play in our day to day functioning. Lisa Maltman (Founder of The Sleep Connection). With 30% of our primary school students and over 70% of our adolescents sleep deprived. These statistics are calling for us collectively between home and school to call on setting healthy boundaries and teaching young people to ‘switch off’ from the blue light after a full day of cognitive, social and emotional learning throughout the school day. 

I encourage you to start a conversation with your daughters around their sleep patterns, especially if you are noticing a dependence, greater irritability, lethargy or an inability to concentrate for a lengthy period of time.

Early intervention is key!

Drug & Alcohol Education

Our Year 8 cohort participated in a Drug & Alcohol workshop led by Thomas Reynolds that covered a range of important facts, statistics and more importantly, skills and strategies that they can use to protect themselves and their friends in alcohol and other drug-related situations. The cohort were thoroughly  engaged and reciprocated with thought provoking, in depth questions.  

Did you know… that alcohol is the drug that is most likely to harm them, yet receives little attention from the media in comparison to other substances?

Counselling Team

A warm welcome to Mrs Louise Scuderi who has commenced at the College as our second Counsellor. Louise works every Monday, Thursday and Friday at the College and has warmly joined the Wellbeing Team. Should your daughter be needing emotional support, please do not hesitate to contact the College, the relevant House Coordinator or directly email on: louise.scuderi@syd.catholic.edu.au. 

How safe are your teens online?

The following website continues to upload and update changes in legislation, new trends as well as support options for parents.

Esafety Commissioner updates

Safe on Social

Another important site to help parents familiarise themselves with valuable resources and tools in helping to keep your children safe online.