School Organisation
To ensure students are active participants in their learning, organisation is fundamental to their success. Being prepared for the school day with the right equipment for every session on the day as well completing homework at home is vitally important. Have a discussion with your child about if they have all the equipment they need to succeed in an outside of the classroom.
Checks you can complete with your child
- Are you bringing a bag to and from school?
- Is lunch packed for the day?
- Is the uniform correct?
- Is their laptop being charged each night and brought to school each day?
- Do they need new work books, pens or other equipment?
- Ask them to bring home their subject workbooks, to see what work they have been completing in class.
- Are they using their locker with a lock to protect their personal belongings? Is their locker organised?
Students need to practice all of these organisational tasks at all levels of schooling so they are fully prepared and have strategies and habits in place for when they reach their VCE years. The junior years are an essential place to start, as the most positive and supportive habits are formed to assist their learning development as they continue their education.
Wellbeing
Reclink Girl’s sports club is running Friday lunchtimes in the school gymnasium, all female students welcome! We recognise that female adolescents typically have less access to organized sports, and we are so grateful to Reclink for providing our students with an inclusive and fun environment to be active.
Being physically active can support improvements in:
- Sleep
- Appetite
- Focus and concentration
- Emotion and mood
- Social interaction
- Self confidence
Adolescent Health Nurse message on Vaping:
Schools across Victoria are playing their part in preventing young people from taking up Vaping by educating students on the health benefits of NOT starting to vape or QUITTING vaping. Schools focus on this issue as it is a widespread health issue for teenagers, as recent surveys of Australian teenagers indicate that up to a third (32%) have ever vaped. This number seems to be climbing as Vapes become easier to find and buy, leading to teenagers developing Nicotine Dependence due to the high levels of Nicotine and other chemicals in Vapes. Many vape devices contain high level nicotine even when they are labelled nicotine free.
Nicotine dependence can develop very quickly with signs including:
- Irritability
- Poor focus/difficulty concentrating
- Lack of control over emotions
- Poor sleep
- Headaches, nausea and vomiting
- Breathing difficulties
- Poor school performance due to Nicotine cravings affecting attendance and learning
A reminder that Victorian Law states that it is illegal to smoke or vape on schools grounds or within 4 meters of school entrances. Despite it being illegal for people under 18 years of age to buy a Vape or e-cigarette device, we know that young people are still finding access to these devices. Breaking vaping laws at school results in suspension for students who break this law.
A note on Safety: E-liquids can poison children and adults through swallowing or skin contact; keep devices out of reach of small children as they are at risk if they were to find a vape device and chew on or swallow parts of a vape device. Symptoms of nicotine poisoning include sweating, dizziness, vomiting and increased heart rate. If you suspect a child has touched or swallowed e-liquids from inside an e-cigarette, you can call the Victorian Poisons Information Line (VPIC). When you call the VPIC, trained staff will give you first aid information, and tell you if you need to call an ambulance or refer you to a doctor for treatment.
Please reach out to school wellbeing team or year level coordination team if you have any concerns about your child using a vape or e-cigarette device. There are many steps we can take to support a young person to stop vaping and there are no legal consequences for a young person asking for help to quit vaping.
For more information please contact:
Quit Victoria:13 7848
Victorian Poisons Information Line: 13 11 23
Kids Health Information : E-cigarettes and teens (rch.org.au)
For parents – Lung Foundation Australia
Students are also able to access QUIT support from adolescent Health Nurse Lauren Turnbull at school, or their Doctor.