From the P&F Association

General Meeting

You are warmly invited to attend the Term 3 2023 P&F General Meeting to be held on Monday 7 August in Benincasa in The Aquinas Centre on the Secondary Campus. The meeting will commence at 6:30pm.

The roles of Secretary and Communications Coordinator are vacant on the Executive Committee. Please email president@ssc.nsw.edu.au if you are interested in learning more about these roles.

Volunteers needed for Father’s Day stall

The Father’s Day stall will be held on two dates this year.

Gioia House will have their own dedicated stall at their campus on Monday 28 August and MBH, P-4 will have theirs on Tuesday 29 August 2023, allowing children in Mary Bailey House to Year 6 the opportunity to purchase gifts for their fathers, grandfathers, uncles and carers and/or any special father figure in their lives.

Our Father’s Day Gift Wrapping Day will be held on Tuesday 15 August from 9-12.30 at the Del Monte Hall. It is a great opportunity to mingle with other carers in our community whilst wrapping gifts for the stall. Morning Tea will be provided so if you can spare an hour, two or the whole morning we would love to see you there.

We cannot run these events for the students without the much valued support of the community. If you are able to volunteer for the Gift Wrapping Day on Tuesday 15 August, the Father’s Day stall on Monday 28 August or Tuesday 29 August please fill out the following Google Form by Friday 11 August 2023.

For any queries please contact Meaghan Aldridge-Chow 0488 422 667

We thank you for your support

The Father’s Day stall committee 2023
Marie Gebrael, Houda Taouk, Meaghan Aldridge-Chow

When and Where Should I Seek Support for My Young Person’s Mental Health?

You may have heard over and over again this decade the impacts that the acute phase of COVID-19, followed by the current economic pressures have had on the mental health and well-being within our community; for both adults and young people. Indeed, studies show that Australians’ mental health challenges are still being experienced at 15% higher than in 2019. We are seeing our young people having higher levels of anxiety and depression, as well as higher levels of neurodiverse conditions (eg ADHD, ASD). Equally, it is normal for our young people to have a ‘bad day’, be in a bad mood, even have a tantrum/ meltdown.

So how do we know when our young person may be having more than a ‘bad day’ and may need to seek professional support?

Are you noticing persistent and unexplained physical/physiological changes?

  • Are they constantly sick?
  • Do they complain of headaches or stomach pains?
  • Are they wanting to have an increasing number of absences from school?

Are you noticing persistent and unexplained changes in mood?

  • Are they highly emotional?
  • Are they frequently angry?
  • Have they withdrawn from friends and family?
  • Do they seem constantly out of sorts?

Are you noticing a sudden and persistent changes in grades at school?

  • Do they suddenly seem disinterested in subjects that they previously loved?
  • Have they stopped studying?
  • Are they studying more than ever before and it’s not equating to an improvement in grades?

If you are noticing any of these changes, and are feeling stuck, a good first step is to engage with the College to obtain more information. Are they noticing any changes too or are things different at school?

If you are wanting to seek professional advice, where do you start?

  • Have a conversation with your young person, noticing the changes, and suggesting that a strategy to assist would be to seek some independent support.
  • Reach out to the College:
    • For Del Monte and Gioia House, this would be your class teacher
    • For Senior School this would be the Head of House. They can then direct you to further support options within the College.
  • If you have a trusted and longstanding relationship with a GP, book a consultation to see what a good next step would be. This could include:
    • A referral to a psychologist for some support. A psychologist is able to provide 10 sessions under Medicare each year (there is a payment gap). A psychologist can help develop strategies to cope with whatever is occurring with the young person.
    • A referral to a psychiatrist can be helpful for any medication needs that may arise.

There is no one size fits all model of support. The aim is to provide a tailored safety net of support to overcome any challenges that your young person may face.

Debra Brodowski