From the Pastoral Office
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
As we conclude the third week of the school year, I hope you found the information evenings helpful. It has been a pleasure meeting with many of you and discussing how we can best support your sons' educational journeys.
As always, College staff are here to support your sons in every way possible, offering guidance, resources, and encouragement as they navigate their academic and extracurricular activities. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Together, we can ensure that this school year is a successful and rewarding experience for all students.
Year 7 Program & Camp
Thank you to the Heads of House and Ms Vanessa Bell (Dean of Wellbeing and Student Engagement) for the effort and energy they have put into creating a positive and enriching environment for our year 7’s during their first few weeks – including camp and their alternate program. The laughter, camaraderie, and shared moments during camp will leave a lasting impact on the lives of our newest students in Secondary School. The staff contributions helped foster a sense of community and adventure that will stay with our young men as they continue their educational journey.
As we reflect on the first three weeks of our Year 7’s, we are grateful for the efforts of all staff who have contributed to create a safe and enjoyable experience for our students
Year 12 Transport Buddies
I would like to congratulate our Year 12s for the way in which they have started this year. We have been receiving some wonderful messages from parents of Year 5 and 7 and members of the public, who are amazed with how our Year 12’s care for them, both in their Home room, as well as on public transport.
I would like to share this email from a member of the public regarding the conduct of our Senior Students.
To whom it may concern,
I had the pleasure this afternoon of witnessing one of your senior boys on the X bus route, mentoring your younger students on bus etiquette and ensuring that they got home safely.
The senior boy told me that this was a program you did pairing up seniors with grade sevens to ensure they know how to ride the bus home.
Can I just say this senior was brilliant with them. Asked them about their day, and also educated them on the etiquette of riding a bus.
It was beautiful and uplifting, and you should be very proud that you were creating wonderful Male leaders for our future generations.
Thank you so much.
Mobile Phones
Each student is required to lock their mobile phone in their locker between the hours of 8.30am and 3.00pm, unless given special permission by their HOH (e.g. a medical condition). Student’s phones will be given to the Pastoral Precinct if found in their possession and can be collected after school. A consequence may also be given by their HOH.
The importance of Sleep
“Approximately 70% of Teenagers Experience Insufficient Sleep” – The Sllep Connection
Dr Chris Seton from the Sleepshack says the best way to judge how much sleep a child needs is to assess whether it’s "enough for them to wake spontaneously – meaning without an alarm clock – on most mornings and avoid tiredness during the day at least until the last hour before bedtime".
A guide to hours of sleep/ night:
- Preschoolers (3-5 years old) : 10-13hrs
- School Aged Children (6-13years old) : 9-11 hrs
- Teens (14-17 years old) : 8-10 hrs
Many of these habits are influenced by a lack of understanding of the importance of sleep. This combined with a busy lifestyles and the drive to be socially connected means sleep becomes undervalued and a low priority.
- Irregular weekly bedtimes and weekend sleep ins: This confuses the body clock. Sleeping in particularly on Sunday starts the school week off on a bad note.
- Sensory overload/multitasking: Flicking between homework, technology etc creates a wired inefficient brain that finds it hard to wind down and go to sleep
- Electronic Devices too close to bedtime and/or wake you over night: The blue light emitted from the devices inhibits the hormone melatonin that helps us sleep. Adding to this the device content excites the brain making it hard to go to sleep.
- Being woken messes with the natural sleep cycles.
- Studying too late: Tired brains are slow and inefficient. This creates the cycle of taking longer to do homework, which delays bedtime further.
- Exercise too close to bedtime: raises body temperature and cortisol levels making it harder for some people to fall asleep soon afterwards
- Poor bed association: Using technology and doing other activities in/on bed leads to mixed messages to the brain that bed is for restful sleep
- Stimulant use: caffeine, energy drinks, alcohol, drugs all impact on sleep quality
I wish all parents and students the very best in starting the new year and as always,
Live Jesus in your hearts……..Forever!
MR DAVID KNIGHT
Dean of Students