Volume 30 Issue 24 Tues 6 August - All Hallows' School

Board Chair's Message

Deputy Principal's Message

Ms Carolyn Liddy

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Have you wondered why you are feeling a little tired by the time 4:00pm rolls around each afternoon during the past few days? Perhaps, like me, you have been drawn to some extremely early mornings as we watch incredible individuals and teams compete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Who would have thought that just five thousandths of a second could be the difference between winning and coming second! The past week has been a thrilling ride as we’ve gripped our seats, held our breath, and cheered for our inspiring Aussie athletes who have excelled in their sports and been shining examples of following our dreams (and working very hard).

As we watch competitors perform, we're reminded the Games are about more than just incredible athletic feats. We have witnessed remarkable fair play, such as when Mollie O’Callaghan shared the podium with her Aussie teammate Ariarne Titmus, when Jessica Fox's mother ran along the sidelines to support her daughter’s gold medal win, and when 14-year-old skateboarder Chloe Covell was consoled by her father and coach when she didn’t qualify for a medal.

Since All Hallows' was founded, our mission has been to challenge our students within a dynamic and holistic learning environment to embrace their future with confidence. It's therefore no surprise that among the athletes behind our cheers are three exceptional AHSisters — water polo player and Class of 2015 alumna Alice Williams, women's quad scull rower and Class of 2012 alumna Caitlin Cronin, and swimmer and Class of 2021 alumna Lizzy Dekkers.

These AHSisters representing our country and our school are embodying our Mercy values on the world stage, and we are immensely proud to watch them shine.

CaSSSA Athletics

With the excitement of the Olympics continuing this week, our current students are gearing up for their own athletic challenges. Athletics Meet 4 was held yesterday and on Monday 12 August, the culmination of the athletics season will occur when our talented squad competes in the Catholic Secondary Schoolgirls’ Sports Association (CaSSSA) Cup Interschool Carnival.

All Hallows’ competitors will be rousingly cheered on by our Year 7 students and Spirit Squad and, if past Carnivals are any indication, I expect there may be a few hoarse voices the following day!

We thank our committed parents and caregivers for their support of our students’ athletic pursuits, and all our dedicated Athletics coaches, sports staff and Parent Support Groups for their hard work preparing our students for this Carnival which is always an exciting day, and a great demonstration of our school spirit.

P&F Riverfire and Sundowner Supper on the Terrace

Our generous Parents and Friends Association are hosting a spectacular Riverfire and Sundowner Supper on the Terrace on Saturday 31 August. We are excitedly looking forward to this inaugural event which is sure to be a night of great food enjoyed alongside the wonderful company of members of our school community, and, of course, the breathtaking Riverfire display.

Tickets are on sale now via this link: P&F Long Supper and Riverfire 2024 Tickets, Sat 31/08/2024 at 5:00 pm | Eventbrite

A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful Parents & Friends Association for their exceptional management of this event. I’d like to also take this opportunity to thank all our Parent Support Groups for their dedication and support of our many social, cocurricular, Mercy action and academic events and programs throughout the year. Your service makes such a difference and we are incredibly grateful for everything you do.

Dean of Student Wellbeing

It is my pleasure to let our community know that Mrs Victoria McDonald has been permanently appointed to the position of Dean of Student Wellbeing. Mrs McDonald brings a wealth of experience to this role including her previous roles as Head of House – Coolock and Head of Pastoral Care. I congratulate Mrs McDonald on her appointment, and I look forward to working with her in our Leadership Team.

Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

This week, we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia's first saint and patron saint of our Archdiocese.

As a school committed to fostering young women of faith, compassion, learning and leadership, we honour the life and contribution of Australia’s first Saint for her dedication to educating children and helping those in need.

We pray that the examples of St Mary of the Cross and Venerable Catherine McAuley will continue to inspire us as we carry out our mission in the education of young women.

Ms. Carolyn Liddy (Deputy Principal).

Dean of Mission

Liturgy Notice

School Events

Parent & Caregiver Events

Raffles & Offers

Dean of Teaching & Learning

Term 3 Subject Selection Processes

This week will see many conversations held at home as well as in classes, at our Student Lunch Time Forums and within Home Groups as our Year 7, 8 and 9 students make a range of elective subject selections for 2025.

Year 7 Language Subject Selections

As a part of your daughter’s Year 7 studies program, she has undertaken a number of rotational subjects, including Term rotations of Design Thinking and the Languages of Japanese, French, and Italian.

In Year 8, students will study their chosen language for three lessons per week throughout the whole year. Our students are encouraged, as with all subject selection processes, to choose the one that best aligns with their skills and their interests. Students will then have the choice to continue this language as an elective subject in Years 9 and 10, should they wish.

Students will be asked to identify their first and second preference for a Language to study in Year 8 of 2025 via a Web Preferences Portal, following a link received from ‘Robot Mail Sender’. Your daughter may complete this with a parent any time this week, following its release at the end of last week. All students are requested to complete this Web Preferences selection by 9.00 am on the morning of Friday 9 August. There is no ‘first in, best dressed’ requirement, though the deadline is strict to allow our timetabling processes to occur.

 Year 9 Social Science and English Subject Selections

As a part of your Year 9 daughter's transition into Year 10 in 2025, she is able to decide which English subject as well as which Social Science subject she wishes to study throughout next year.

As we move towards the senior phase of schooling and preparations for senior English and Social Science subjects, we provide some flexibility in our range of choice in both the English and the Social Science suite of subjects offered in Year 10. In 2022 we introduced an English pathway for Year 10 students called ‘English Literature,’ which is based on the Literature senior syllabus in both approach to the subject matter and the selection of texts. Similarly, in 2022 we introduced the option of studying Year 10 Geography for the full year (as opposed to the cycle of Geography and History) as a student’s Year 10 Social Science subject.

Our students have been asked to identify their English subject preference as well as their Social Science subject preference for study in Year 10 of 2025 via a Web Preferences Portal, following a link received from ‘Robot Mail Sender’ that is unique to each student. We appreciate your daughter completing this selection with a parent over the course of this week. All students are requested to complete this Web Preferences selection by 9.00 am on the morning of Friday 9 August. There is no ‘first in, best dressed’ requirement, though again, the deadline is strict to allow our timetabling processes to occur.

 Year 8 into Year 9 and 10 Elective Subject Selections

As a part of your Year 8 daughter's transition into Year 9 and 10 from 2025, she will be able to decide which core Social Science and which two Elective Subject Preferences she wishes to study next year. Students are asked to identify their core Social Science (Geography and History cycle - a semester of each, or History full year) as well as two Elective Subject Preferences. This is completed via a Web Preferences Portal, following a unique link received from ‘Robot Mail Sender’ to each student. Your daughter may complete this survey with a parent during an evening over the course of this week or on the coming weekend. All Year 8 students are requested to complete this Web Preferences selection by 9.00 am on the morning of Monday 12 August. There is no ‘first in, best dressed’ requirement, though the deadline is strict to allow our timetabling processes to occur.

Strategies to Support Motivation

Dean of Student Learning & Data

Dean of Student Wellbeing

Social Media: Finding the Balance

The arrival of social media and its significant rise around 2010, coupled with the screen exposure that the current generation has experienced from birth, continues to fuel community concerns. Previously there was a strong focus on physical risk factors but this has now shifted to online; the potential for constant, uninterrupted exposure is an issue that underscores the mental impact on our youth.

At the start of this term, I spoke about the school policy of no phones through the school day, to allow connection and provide opportunities away from a screen. Today I would like to share some insights and tips on how to manage your teenager's use of social media. Social media is a persistent and influential part of our modern society, and it can have both positive and negative impacts on young people's mental health, wellbeing, and education.

In the following points, I will draw on some recent research and expert advice to help you understand the benefits and risks of social media for our young people, and how you can support them to use it responsibly and safely.

I will also relate some of the topics to our school's mission and values, which are based on the Catholic faith and the charism of the Sisters of Mercy. Our school aims to foster a culture of respect, integrity, compassion, joy, justice, and service among our students, staff, and community.

What is social media and how do teens use it?

Social media is a term that encompasses various online platforms and applications that allow people to create, share, and consume content, as well as communicate and interact with others. Some of the most popular social media services among teens are Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube.

According to a survey by the Australian Government's eSafety Commissioner, girls aged 14-24 spend 822 minutes on social media each week (about 2 hours a day), while boys spend 518 minutes (about 1.5 hours a day). Teens use social media for various purposes, such as entertainment, information, education, socialisation, self-expression, and activism.

What are the benefits of social media for teens?

There are many positives associated with social media, and it's important for teens to develop social media savviness to prepare them for adulthood where, undeniably, social media remains a major part of daily life.

As a school, we recognise the value of social media as a tool for learning and communication, and we encourage our students to use it in ways that align with our mission and values. For example, we encourage our students to use social media to:

Engage with local and global issues that affect the dignity and rights of all people, especially the poor and marginalised
Promote a culture of respect and kindness, and to stand up against bullying, discrimination, and injustice
Celebrate their achievements and talents, and to support and congratulate their peers

We also provide our students with opportunities to learn about digital citizenship and ethical online behaviour, and to reflect on how their online actions can impact themselves and others.

What are the risks of social media for teens?

We know that social media also comes with potential risks and challenges for teens, such as:

Addiction and overuse, which can affect their sleep, schoolwork, and offline relationships
Exposure to inappropriate and harmful content, such as violence, pornography, cyberbullying, and online grooming
Comparison and pressure to conform to unrealistic standards of beauty, success, and popularity
Loss of privacy and personal data, which can be exploited by advertisers, hackers, or predators
Reduced self-esteem, self-image, and mental health, which can lead to depression, anxiety, or disordered eating

The eSafety Commissioner's survey revealed that in a 6-month period in 2020, 4 in 10 teens (44% of those surveyed) had a negative experience online. This included being contacted by a stranger, sent inappropriate content or being deliberately excluded from events or social groups.

Alina Morawska, a senior lecturer in clinical psychology at the University of Queensland, says that social media can have both positive and negative effects on teens' mental health, depending on how they use it and how they cope with it.

"Social media can be a source of social support, connection, and information, but it can also be a source of stress, anxiety, and isolation," she says.

As a school, we are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for our students, both online and offline. We have policies and procedures in place to prevent and respond to any incidents of cyberbullying, online harassment, or inappropriate content. We also have our pastoral care team and school counsellors who are available to assist any students who are struggling with their social media use or mental health.

How can parents help their teens with their social media use?

As parents and guardians, you play a vital role in helping your teens navigate the online world and find the right balance between social media and their mental health. Here are some tips on how you can support your teens with their social media use:

Be involved and interested in their online activities, and have open and honest conversations with them about the benefits and risks of social media
Set some household rules and boundaries around social media and devices for everyone, such as no devices at the dinner table, in the bedroom, or after a certain time
Model healthy and responsible online behaviour yourself, and show them how to use social media in positive and constructive ways
Encourage them to have a diverse range of offline hobbies and interests, and to spend time with their friends and family in person
Teach them how to protect their privacy and personal data online, and how to report and block any inappropriate or harmful content or contact
Help them develop critical thinking and media literacy skills, and to question and evaluate the information and messages they see online
Monitor their online activity and mood, and look out for any signs of distress, such as withdrawal, irritability, or changes in appetite or sleep
Seek professional help if you are concerned about your teen's social media use or mental health, and access the resources and support available from the eSafety Commissioner, Headspace, or Kids Helpline

Collaboration between home and school is vital considering social media's influence. Should concerns arise, never hesitate to connect with either the Head of House, Head of Pastoral Care, or myself. We are dedicated to supporting everyone within our community.

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