Pastoral Care Update

Vaping is a current and concerning trend that has emerged among young people and sparked concerns among health professionals, educators and the wider community. Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling aerosol from e-cigarettes or similar devices. It has become increasingly popular among teenagers, including some boys in our community. However, despite the perception among some young people that vaping is a less harmful alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes, the reality is that it poses serious risks to users’ health, particularly those who begin using vapes at a young age. Furthermore, the industry is poorly regulated, and there have been very serious health consequences for young people who vape.

In recent news articles, we have learned how some young people in our community have campaigned for further government assistance to address the issue of vaping among their peers. They have called for stronger regulations and better education about the dangers of vaping. As educators, we fully support their efforts, and the Pastoral Care team is committed to playing a part in addressing this issue.

Research has shown that the best way to address this issue with students is to teach students to be critical consumers and be aware of the tricks the media uses to sell vapes to young people. We want to encourage the boys to be principled in their actions and help them build good self-control habits so they can make the right decisions. We take a firm approach and provide clear consequences for those caught vaping during school hours. Unfortunately, the state government has not yet provided firm and clear rules and regulations to protect young people from vapes, and it is too easy for them to buy vapes from local convenience stores and petrol stations. Unfortunately, some students struggle with vaping addiction, which is a very sad situation that requires our support to manage. Our school counsellors can assist some students and connect them with external support, which is an important part of the solution. We also discuss the issue of vaping in House, during tutorial time and in PDHPE classes, as we believe these are critical forums for engaging with our students about their health and wellbeing. Teachers and the Pastoral Care team do an excellent job caring for all our boys at Shore.

I encourage you to watch the School TV special report on the issue of vaping here SPECIAL REPORT: Vaping & E-Cigarettes | SHORE – Sydney Church of England Grammar School (schooltv.me), which provides a comprehensive understanding of the issue and its impact on young people. We believe that it is essential for parents and guardians to be aware of this issue and to talk to their children about the dangers of vaping.

We are committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of all our students at Shore, and by working together, we hope to address this issue effectively. We will continue to keep you updated on our efforts to address this issue and provide support to our students. Thank you for your support and partnership in this important matter.

Mr D Champion
Acting Deputy Head Pastoral Care