Term 2 Week 8 - Thursday 15th June 2023
Notes from the Principal
Catherine McAuley students strive for higher things
Last week in my ‘Notes From the Principal’ section I wrote to you about the tremendous achievements of students who completed a three day hike for their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award.
This week I would also like to let you know about the very impressive achievement of eight students in Year 12 who graduated on Tuesday night from the Western Sydney University Academy U Leadership in Complexity course. The students have been studying this course over the past 18 months, concurrently with their Year 10 and Preliminary studies. The course, generally offered to undergraduate students, counts for one completed first year subject at the university. This is a wonderful achievement for them.
There are 30 students in Years 9, 10 and 11 participating in the Academy U opportunity this year.
All students have been striving for higher things in their learning this semester, and their application and consistency to their study have been rewarded in their Semester 1 reports, which come to you on Wednesday, 21 June. The reports are followed by Parent/Student/Teacher meetings on Wednesday, 28 June (online) and Thursday, 29 June (face to face). More information about these important meetings will be sent with your daughter’s report. We look forward to seeing you then to discuss her progress and next steps in her learning.
Staff Changes
There has been some movement of teachers this term, with teachers needing to take leave or moving to other schools. I have written about this in detail in the letter attached.
Mary Refalo
Principal
News from the Assistant Principal
Balancing Your Time Online: The challenge for young people and adults
It can be easy to spend a lot of time online, but being aware of how often and why you go online can help you work out a healthier and happier balance with time offline.
Why should I balance my time online? Friend or foe? Assistant or enabler? Sometimes, it’s hard to tell what role the internet plays in our lives.
Being online should enhance our lives, not dominate them. If you feel the need to constantly refresh your apps or check your notifications, or if you find you’re defining yourself by your ‘extremely online’ humour, it’s probably time to take a break. Why? Because too much time online can make study, work and relationships more difficult and even drag down your physical and mental health.
These are some of the ways too much time online can impact your life.
1. Too much time online can affect your brain chemistry and mood - It tends to be the case that the more we tap on notifications, or the more likes we get for a post, or the more levels we go up in a game, the happier we feel. This is the brain’s way of ‘rewarding’ us for continuing attention – with a rush of dopamine, a chemical that makes us feel good. Apps are often designed to do exactly this, so we’ll keep using them.
2. Too much time online can affect IRL moments and relationships - If you think you’re spending too much time on your phone when you’re out with your friends, you’d be part of a growing number of people who feel similarly. Phone snubbing, sometimes called ‘phubbing’, refers to people using their phones when out with others, rather than actively engaging with them and fully experiencing the moment.
3. Too much time online can affect your body image - Websites and social feeds provide endless tutorials on building muscle, applying makeup and dressing fashionably. That can make you feel you don’t look good enough as you are, and constant exposure to the unrealistic standards may damage your self-image and mental health.
It’s important to remember that beauty, health and lifestyle influencers can use apps like FaceTune, good lighting, selective angles and expensive photoshoots to present their best selves in a post. In reality, they suffer with bad skin days, lumpy bits and unruly hair – just like most of us.
4. Too much time online can affect your view of the world - Have you ever found yourself constantly clicking on bad news, hurtful content or posts that make you envious of others, then feeling sad, stressed or depressed because of it? That’s called ‘doomscrolling’. Psychologists say it starts as a coping mechanism – when we’re worried, we tend to gather information to feel like we’re in control.
It’s important to remember that staying informed can be healthy but becoming obsessed is not so good. Spending a lot of time focusing on negative things online can dull experiences we normally enjoy, and even damage our mental and physical health.
How do I break my online 'addiction'? Consider which online activities can be done offline: If you feel like you’re spending too much time online, it’s worth taking a careful look at what positive online activities could be turned into positive offline activities. For example, an online gaming session could become in-person with a friend or family member instead. Balance is key – not everything has to be offline or online all the time.
Spend time device-free: It might sound boring, but spending time by yourself can help you find pleasure in ordinary things again. Start by spending 30 minutes by yourself or with a friend, without any devices, and build up to longer periods. Leave your devices where you can’t see them, to reduce the temptation to go online.
Set boundaries with friends: If your friend calls you in the middle of the night, or messages you during class or work, it may be time to have a conversation about boundaries. Tell them when you will and won’t be checking your phone. You could also turn on ‘Do not disturb’ or ‘Aeroplane Mode’ so you don’t see their messages until you’re back online. If you feel like you have to be there for your friend because you’re concerned about them, remember that you need to look after your own health first – you might like to get advice about the best way to help them from a confidential counselling and support service.
Take regular breaks from the sites, apps and games you use most: Identify the websites, apps or games you use most. You don’t need to ditch them entirely, just try turning off notifications, blocking them during study or work hours, or setting time limits for each session. This is especially important if you feel like your self-esteem is strongly linked to getting likes or comments on your social posts.
Make your phone less interesting: If your phone is proving too tempting, you could consider setting it to greyscale, so your brain is less stimulated by the colourful screen and images. This will make it less enticing to play with and help you focus on its main purpose – as a tool and not a distraction.
Talk with someone about it: Talking about how you feel with a good friend, a family member or someone else you trust may help you work out a plan for breaking old habits. They can also encourage you to stick to the plan.
Technology is an important form of communication but it can not be the only form of communication. It is important to provide time to develop friendships and relationships in person and not only see the world through a screen.
For more information regarding managing the use of devices refer to the eSafety Commission advice for parents and carers.
Debbie Grigson
Assistant Principal
Pray With Us
News Articles
This Week on Social Media
Follow Catherine McAuley Westmead on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for regular updates. One of the posts is shown below:
Students who participated in the Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey three day hike returned to school, tired and sore, but completely satisfied with their tremendous efforts. Congratulations girls - we are very proud of you! And lots of gratitude to the four teachers who made it possible for them to complete this journey.
Need To Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 2 Week 9
- Year 11 Biology Excursion
- Year 10 Vaccination Program
Term 2 Week 10
- Years 7 - 10 Parent / Student / Teacher Meetings
- Year 12 Formal
- Staff Formation Day
- School Morning Tour