Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members 

It seems we only just started Term 4 but already we are moving into Week 5 and a very busy time for both staff and students as formal end of year assessments/examinations get under way for Year 10 and quickly followed by Years 7 to 9.  This can be a very stressful time for the students.  Kids Helpline has put together a list of strategies that may help young people manage examination stress.  It lists what signs parents should look for and what students can do to help themselves through effective study as well as sleeping and eating habits.  There is also a video from Toasted TV to help kids understand they are not alone when experiencing examination stress. 

Exam Stress | What is Exam Stress & How to Deal with it | Kids Helpline

HSC exams have only just concluded this week and we have received wonderful feedback from the NESA supervisors who have guided our Year 12 cohort for 2023 through the exam process.  The supervisors have noted that all students have been well prepared, on time, and have worked with diligence and sustained effort for the entire duration of each exam.  A big thank you to Theresa Avery, Assistant Principal Learning & Teaching and Bronwen Davidson Year 12 Leader of Wellbeing & Engagement and all St Clare’s teachers and support staff who have spent many years preparing the group for the completion of Year 12 and as they move into the next phase of their lives.  We will celebrate the Year 12 cohorts time at St Clare’s with family and friends on Friday, 10 November with their Awards Presentation in the Josephite Learning Centre here at school followed by dinner and dancing at the Winning Post Function Centre.

As such, St Clare’s High School is excited to announce that we will be shortly adding an award-winning resource to our school website.  The resource, SchoolTV, includes evidenced-based information and practical strategies to build parent, carer and educator knowledge and confidence across a range of mental health and wellbeing topics.  

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle supported St Clare’s to add SchoolTV to our website in response to feedback received from parents and carers who said they are seeking greater support in understanding the challenges their children are experiencing, as well as practical strategies for ways they can assist them.  

SchoolTV features interviews with leading wellbeing experts and researchers from around the world, on topics including: 

• Mental Health (encompassing grief and loss, suicide and self-harm, drug and alcohol use, anxiety, trauma and depression). 
• Healthy Bodies (including mindfulness, body image, sleep, eating disorders, diet and nutrition, physical activity and exercise).
• Cyber Safety (encompassing cyberbullying, digital reputation, internet addiction, online gambling, sexting and managing screen time).
• Positive Parenting (including friendship and belonging, blended families, resilience, positive parenting and understanding adolescence).
• School Survival (encompassing school refusal, school transitions and exam jitters). 
• Diversity and Inclusion (including multiculturalism, neurodiversity, respectful relationships, gender diversity and supporting children with a disability).  

These topics are presented in a variety of ways including videos, factsheets, podcasts and SchoolTV also includes recommendations for additional resources including books, apps and other websites.  

While we will continue to host parent and carer information events as a school, one of the many benefits of SchoolTV is that you can watch it pre-emptively or as the need arises. 

From time to time, we may also promote key topics contained in SchoolTV for families either through Compass, our newsletter or Facebook, when they coincide with student learning and/or matters arising in our school community.  

Importantly, SchoolTV compliments initiatives already underway in our school including our Student Wellbeing and Pastoral Care Policy, our CLARE lessons and the Diocese “Wellbeing Together” Student Learning and Wellbeing Framework. 

Our staff will be provided with some Professional development to become familiar with SchoolTV, and as such, I am confident that this shared knowledge between staff and parents will assist us all in partnering together to better support children and young people’s learning, safety, mental health and wellbeing.  

If you have any questions about SchoolTV, or the topics contained within the site, please get in touch with our Wellbeing Team leader Mrs Marian Parvin or myself. 

Here is a short informative clip about SchoolTV:  Maitland Newcastle Diocese | SchoolTV

Visit our SchoolTV site here:  SchoolTV | St Clare's High School - Taree

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Kind Regards

Phillip Gibney
Principal