Principal, Mr Graham Leddie
Congratulations and thank you to all staff, students, and parents who have helped support the transition to online learning. The NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian has extended current community restrictions until Friday 30 July, therefore online learning will continue for the next two weeks.
CAS Position Statement on Winter Sport
Due to the current Government restrictions and advice, all CAS 2021 winter sport competitions and fixtures are currently suspended. The CAS will work within NSW Government and Health guidelines in preparation for the re-commencement of sporting fixtures when it is deemed safe and appropriate to do so. We will communicate developments as soon as we are in a position to do so.
Vigilance
Whilst other LGAs in Sydney are attracting greater attention at present with respect to COVID-19 transmission to where most of our students live, there are currently 70 cases of COVID-19 in the Waverley LGA. It is vital that we continue to follow health orders and stay at home. Please remember that masks must be worn indoors, unless in your own home. This includes inside apartment building common areas such as lifts, stairwells, corridors, car parks and shared laundry facilities.
Resilience
Ms Gabby Smith (Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning) commended students in her communications today for showing resilience, grit and perseverance and I would reiterate her sentiments.
These are challenging times that are being presented to us all. How do you help your son develop and improve qualities of resilience?
Psychologists Lawrence Robinson and Melinda Smith, M.A suggest there are five key areas to practise to improve resilience:
1. Practise acceptance
Change is an inevitable part of life and many aspects of the changing world are outside of your individual control. Accepting your situation can free up energy to be used on areas that you can control and take action on in your life. It is tempting to believe that the best way to get through hard times is by ignoring painful emotions and ‘putting on a brave face’. Unfortunately, unpleasant emotions exist whether we choose to acknowledge them or not. By allowing yourself to feel emotions, the most intense and upsetting emotions will pass and fade, and you will be able to find a path forward.
2. Reach out to others
Connecting with friends and family when you’re going through tough times can help ease stress, boost your mood, and make sense of all the change and disruption. Instead of feeling like you’re facing your problems alone, you can draw strength and build resilience from having others to lean on. The people you reach out to don’t need to have answers to the problems you’re facing; they just need to be willing to listen to you without judging.
3. Invest in self-care
When your body feels strong and healthy, so too will your mind. When you’re dealing with chronic stress, you are likely to carry it somewhere in your body.
Make sure you:
- Get enough exercise
- Improve your sleep
- Eat well
- Drink 2+ litres of water daily
- Reduce technology usage
- Practise relaxation and breathing techniques – give online yoga, tai chi or meditation a go
4. Look for meaning and purpose
When you are in the midst of a crisis, it’s common to feel powerless and helpless. By proactively helping others, you can regain a sense of control as well as find purpose in your life. In fact, giving support can be just as beneficial as receiving support.
In turbulent times, it’s important not to cast aside interests that nourish your spirit. For many of us, it’s these things that define us as individuals and bring meaning to our lives.
Whether it’s exercising, caring for a pet, an artistic or musical endeavour, home improvement projects, or spending time in nature, continuing to draw pleasure from your pastimes adds to your ability to cope with the stress of difficult times.
5. Stay Motivated
Deal with your problems one step at a time. If a problem is too big to deal with all at once, try breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps. If your problem seems to have no possible solution, you can still take action by drawing up a list, researching more about the subject, or seeking the advice of a trusted friend or loved one. You can also take a moment to acknowledge your gratitude for the small things in your life, and these can provide respite from the stress and really boost your mood.
Cadets
Congratulations to the Cadet program who ran a successful leadership program in the first week of the holidays prior to the lockdown. Congratulations also to those Cadets who have received leadership ranks from both St. Catherine’s School and Waverley College. Please see the full report later in Nurrunga.
