Term 2 has come to an end.  Term 2, like all others has been rewarding, and an opportunity to grow for our students and staff.    Each time a challenge has arisen this term it has been an opportunity to use our resilience skills.   Resilience is not something we are born with; it is something we learn.  Resilience is like getting fit and growing muscles.  The more we use our muscles the stronger and more efficient they get.  Resilience is much the same.  When we are equipped with the right skills and mindsets each challenge we face is an opportunity to bounce forward stronger, wiser and sometimes more empathetic and compassionate.     

The vacation period is an excellent opportunity to continue to engage with the positive wellbeing habits that our students are learning during PDP lessons.  To support students in their daily GEM, practice the Resilience Project has an App that can be downloaded.  

 GEM, Gratitude Empathy and Mindfulness

Gratitude, paying attention to the things we have right now, and not worrying about what we don’t have.  We practice gratitude by noticing the positives around us.  An end of term gratitude activity: What are three things that went well for you this term? 

Empathy, putting ourselves in the shoes of others so we feel what they are feeling.  We practice empathy by being kind and compassionate towards other people.   An end of term empathy activity: How will you let one person know that you are thankful for their contribution to a success or memorable moment you have had this term? 

Mindfulness, our ability to be calm and present in the moment.  We practice mindfulness by slowing down and concentrating on one thing at a time.  An end of term mindfulness activity: Be still for 1 minute.  What noises do you hear around you? 

As a college we have so much to be grateful for and I would like to thank the staff, students and wider WHSC community for the partnerships that have been created this semester.  Partnerships are what make our community strong and unique. 

Subject Selections

The end of Term 2 is when we ask Year 9 and 10 students and their parents to start thinking about subject selections for the next school year.  Over the holiday period, I encourage students to reflect on their future pathway goals and begin to think about which subjects will help them best prepare for their futures.  A good way to think about which subjects to select is, ‘Which mix of skills would I like to/need to develop to be preprared for my future?’.  ‘Which skills to I need to have in my future tooklit?’  We look forward to supporting our Year 9 and 10 students during Term 3 as they plot the first steps on their future journey. 

Farewell to Mr Jordan

Mr Jordan commenced at Whites Hill in 2020; our current Year 12’s were in Year 7.  Over the past 5 years, Mr Jordan has been a valued and engaged member of our community.  Mr Jordan is an exceptional educator, and his positive influence on our students has been significant.  The impact of Mr Jordan’s teaching practice and love of music was showcased at Synapsis Ignite on Wednesday the 25^th of June.  Mr Jordan has made the decision to move on to his next chapter, and share his exceptional skills and knowledge with a new school community.  We wish Mr Jordan all the best in his next steps, and he will be greatly missed. 

Healthy Holiday Habits

Over the holidays maintaining some level of routine is important.  I encourage all of our students to be aware of their online activities, specifically the amount of time they are spending on social media.  Engaging in physical activity and getting adequate amounts of sleep are essential to returning to Term 3 feeling recharged and prepared for the demands of the next 10 weeks. 

For parents who would like to learn more about supporting their young people with their online behaviours the eSafety Commissioner has released their list of Term 3 webinars. 

I wish you all a restful vacation full of opportunities to connect with family and friends.

Samantha Hawkins
Head of School - Secondary