Years 11 & 12 News – Mrs Ellouise Bernie

Year 11 and 12 are settling in well to the academic year and enjoying the opportunities and events available to them at OLM.

Our Year 11 House Leaders enjoyed the recent opportunity to show their house spirit, preparation and leadership at the OLM Swimming Carnival. Leading chants until their voices cracked and organising the whole house swims with their House Leaders. Year 12 also took full advantage of this day to make memories, dressing up together and participating in a range of events. Special congratulations to Baggot House who were the well deserving winners on the day. 

Year 11 were fortunate to attend an excursion to the State Library, Mitchell Library and Art Gallery of NSW. We were given a tour of the State Library and had the opportunity to explore the HSC resource section. Some of our students were extremely lucky and got to visit the “stacks” underneath the State Library where the extensive collection is stored. They were fascinated to see the old and rare books and artifacts in the collection. Following this they completed a scavenger hunt that took them through key buildings and exhibitions that relate to their preliminary subjects, finishing in the Art Gallery of NSW where they explored the “Leave the Key Under the Mat” art installation. 

Year 12 students seized the opportunity to learn more about university study attending University of Wollongong Discovery Day. They were able to experience a “day in the life” of a university student with hands-on workshops, faculty tours, and interactive lectures that help students explore career paths and campus life.

This week Year 11 had the amazing opportunity to participate in the Tomorrow Woman workshops. The Tomorrow Woman organisation is passionate about helping students navigate the expectations that shape their sense of self. The workshops are an opportunity to pause, reflect, and connect. Students explored how they can challenge their preconceived limitations and explored the dynamics of female peer groups and the powerful role young women play in shaping their community. They reflected on the social hierarchies around them, examined the impact of their words and actions, and learned how to foster a culture of inclusivity, empathy, and respect.

In our recent digital citizenship sessions, students explored the concept of Digital Reputation, using resources from the Australian eSafety Commissioner. We discussed how every action online—including posts, comments, “likes,” and even photos others tag them in—contributes to a permanent digital footprint that shapes how they are perceived by friends, future employers, and universities.

Students were encouraged to “stop and think” before posting, to treat others with the same respect online as they do in person, and to regularly review their privacy settings. We also practiced “Googling” ourselves to see what information is publicly available. We invite you to continue this conversation at home by asking your child what they discovered about their own digital footprint and discussing how they can maintain a positive and safe online presence for the future.

 

Ellouise Bernie, Instructional Leader of Wellbeing Years 11 & 12