Newsletter, Term 1, Week 4 24 Feb 2022

I first read this research a number of years ago and heard Twenge when she presented to a group of girls’ schools' educators. At that point, we were grappling, not with COVID and lockdowns, but with the amazing emergence of the use (and misuse) of mobile phones. Parents were terrified about the dominance of them (rightly so) and teachers were struggling to monitor surreptitious use and having to deal with non-related School weekend debacles which typically involved students from various schools, alcohol use, an unwise post, and a ‘gathering’ or an unwise post and a falling out of friends. This continues, of course, although I believe that students are for the most part far more educated and careful than they were in the noughties.

And here we are now, post two years of lockdowns where the lifeline of connection to other people was our devices. This dependence has not gone away as restrictions have eased, but I know from talking to our students that they are aware of the use of their phones for security or as a safety blanket and they are consciously trying to be ‘in the moment’ as challenging as that may be for the less socially confident. But back to the notion of loneliness. Twenge et al. (2021) refers in her work specifically to ‘school loneliness’, defined as the ‘inverse of school belonging or school connectedness’. You would have heard us speak a lot about connectedness with the School as being a protective factor for young people and this recent research claims lack of connectedness is an ‘established predictor of low wellbeing and depression among adolescents.

So, what makes a student ‘lonely at School'? The Alliance piece posits that technology plays a major role – particularly the use of smartphones for communication via social media. Despite the advantages and efficiencies, some researchers caution that digital communication can foster shallow ties rather than deep ones, which may result in loneliness. However, as with most things, they write, context matters. In this case, the salient contextual factor is the behaviour of the group. As removing smartphones is not an option, the researchers used the variance from country to country as a useful tool in determining the relationship between smartphone use and school loneliness. By studying these populations over time, Twenge et al. (2021) found that when smartphone use was introduced - because entrenched as the default mode of connection in a society, loneliness increased – and even students without smartphones were affected by group trends.

Whether individual students have access to social media or not, they are still affected. They are either excluded from interactions if everyone else is Snapchatting, Tik Toking etc or they are plagued by FOMO (fear of missing out). Furthermore, unsurprisingly for those of us who live and work with girls, girls were disproportionately affected by this ‘exclusionary culture’. Twenge (2021) found that while girls suffer more than boys from school loneliness, girls’ schools were well-placed and on high alert to support students to develop healthier more balanced approaches to communication. According to Macquarie Marketing Group’s 2020 analysis of PISA data, student at all-girls schools already reported a greater sense of wellbeing and feelings of belonging in their school. The positive trend continues in a large-scale survey conducted by Mission Australia (2020) which found students at girls’ schools had maintained their higher levels of mental (and physical) wellbeing during the pandemic. Similarly, positive were the results released after AQR International’s (2021) psychometric assessment of UK students, where girls’ school students recorded significantly higher than average levels of mental toughness – a form of resilience characterized by confidence and mental control.

The research collated by Alliance from these researchers considers that these statistics could indicate that the social environment coupled with girl-focused wellbeing programs delivered in girls’ schools are somehow mitigating certain negative effects of smartphone use – not to mention the pandemic. This is especially striking, considering teenage girls, especially those aged 12 – 14 are more likely than any other demographic to experience anxiety and depression after cyberbullying episodes. Indeed, if school loneliness is the inverse of school ‘belonging’, then surely the sense of belonging and the sisterhood so often articulated and experienced in girls’ schools offers some protection against the loneliness of a digitally-driven generation.

At Strathcona, as experienced educators of girls, we have always known this magic ingredient of connectedness and belonging is critical for the healthy development of our students.  Our classrooms, curriculum and co-curriculum are built on this knowledge. Connectedness and belonging are seen as the first most important thing to establish in a classroom each year, particularly at entry years. We strongly encourage students to participate in the co-curricular life of the School so that myriads of connectedness occur beyond classrooms and friendship groups. Our Christian Education Program at Year 7 has a focus on developing in the girls a sense of who they are and why relationships, values, care and connectedness are so important.

Our Wellbeing Program of course, is designed around this deep knowledge. Our Dean of Students and her remarkable team, redesigned, refreshed and rewrote our Wellbeing Program (and are still doing so as we monitor our students’ reentry to school life) with the knowledge that lockdowns, social isolation and the dependence on devices as a lifeline, tilted the balance beyond what went before. I can’t remember when I first saw a jubilant girl enter the school grounds with that most prized and scarce object, the brick-sized phone, but we have done our best to keep up with how to work with our parents and manage (not always ahead of the game, unfortunately – remember when MSN/MySpace/Facebook were cool?). And we are still doing so. But at least we can be girl-centric, even if they are sometimes (often) ahead of us. Even if the tech is faster-paced than we are, we are the grown-ups, and we know what is good for our kids.

Warm regards

Marise McConaghy, Principal

Items in the Career News include -

• Dates to Diarise in Term 1

• News from Monash University

o Monash Course Information Events

o Refreshed Common First Year in Engineering

o New Economics Major on offer in the Bachelor of Arts

o Pathway to Physiotherapy

o Languages at Monash

• Career as a Firefighter

• What is a Paralegal?

• Economics Explored

• Letz Live Working Holidays and GAP Year

• Speech Pathology and Audiology Degrees in Victoria in 2022

• Snapshot of Bond University in 2022

The first activity, “Walk a Mile in My Shoes”, involved all students exploring how they were feeling and what they wanted staff and others to know about them and their interests. Every person’s decorated shoe will be displayed anonymously to build a sense of shared empathy, comradeship, group unity and understanding. The activity did highlight that a large number of students reported that they felt stressed. Learning strategies to mitigate stress and anxiety will form an important aspect of our Wellbeing program in Year 9 as we focus on optimism, resilience and being courageous.

Navigating the complex world of friendships was the second Wellbeing discussion we launched. We encourage all students to spend their time at Tay Creggan ‘finding their tribe’, to reflect on what makes a good friend and to learn how to identify and maintain healthy relationships.

Colourful Pop Art tiles representing a multitude of Melbourne icons are about to decorate the hallways of Tay Creggan. In Envision, each student made their own tile which will contribute to a large, vibrant artwork.  We love to celebrate the individuality and creativity of each piece of art.

Several “clubs” and activities have begun for the first time this week – some to help with gaining Duke of Ed Service hours, others to foster a shared interest. Maths Help Club, which runs at Wednesday lunchtime, was keenly supported, as was Library Club and Debating. Sam Ellis has started Gardening Club on a Wednesday afternoon and Michelle Holding has 24 SOUL Sisters ready to begin their mentoring program with Year 4. Narelle Cameron is running our “Slices for Servants’ group of volunteers who are supporting Servants Community Housing. Pleasingly, a number of students have reported that they have secured volunteer service in their local community. Most Thursdays, when Toni Black, our OEG staff member and Duke of Ed co-ordinator is at TC, all students have 20 minutes of Pastoral time to log the Duke of Ed hours they have accumulated for the week.

Concerningly, a number of Tay Creggan staff have had to speak to students about non-compliant uniforms, being late to class and keeping our kitchen neat and tidy. We will keep enforcing these standards of behaviour and thank you for your support.

Best wishes,

Karyn Murray, Head of Tay Creggan

In many ways it is a big step up from Year 8, however; it is also the year when, for many students, things fall into place, something clicks and Maths starts making more sense and feeling more intuitive. 

This week students are in the process of sitting their first Maths test for the year and have approached this challenge with focus, dedication, and maybe just a smidge of trepidation. After two interrupted years, they have shown us they are ready for a normal year of high school, accepting the reality of assessments, essays, and tests, along with excursions, fun activities, and lunchtimes together. 

Our focus, however; is not a particular score. Instead, at Year 9, markers of success are many and varied. Success looks like asking for help, being organised, taking responsibility for getting work done, contributing in groups, showing improvement, and helping others. In Maths this year I want to see improvement, even if it is gradual. Doing better than last time, feeling better about an assessment, using time more effectively, or having an idea finally come to fruition. 

During Maths lessons this year we will focus on test strategies and approaches, how to use time effectively to get the best outcomes, as well as practicing a range of problem-solving techniques to better approach unfamiliar problems. Already I am seeing students choose to attempt our Puzzle of the Week, choose to come to Maths Help Club (see the photo), choose to try, even when they feel like they might get something wrong. The class of 2025 have started out with their best foot forward, and to help them maintain this, it is important that the messages about the success they are receiving from us at school and from home encompass all myriad ways success can appear, not just as a number or letter grade. 

Katie Harris, Year 9 Maths Teacher

Tuesday 8 March 2022, 7.30am - 9.30am
Chin Chin, Melbourne 
To book in for this special event click here.

Don't miss out - limited seats available! 

Come and celebrate International Women's Day with us. This special breakfast is the first event in our inaugural ‘’Strathcona Women's Series’’. The International Women’s Day Breakfast brings the community together to recognise how far we have come towards achieving gender equality, how far we have to go, and the outstanding work and contribution of the women in our community and beyond.This year's theme for IWD is Break the Bias. Specifically, striving for a gender-equal world, free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. Strathcona's International Women's Day breakfast aims to bring our community together to celebrate women's achievements and raise awareness and continue to advocate for gender equality both in Australia and around the world. 

We look forward to hosting the event at the beautiful Chin Chin upstairs event space and providing our community the opportunity to come together, enjoy a delicious breakfast, and listen to our guest speaker, author of Leader by Design, and former CEO of Sportsgirl Colleen Callander. Colleen empowers and encourages women to have the confidence to believe in themselves, their ability and to share their voice. 

The breakfast will commence at 7.30 am. A ticket to the breakfast will include a sit-down meal, a special gift, and a chance to celebrate the women in our community on International Women's Day. Tickets are limited so book in quick!  Tell your friends and bring them along too, and come and meet some others in the community!

Our IWD Breakfast will also raise money in support of our School Charity Partner Women's Property Initiatives (WPI). Women's Property Initiatives create new beginnings for women and children at risk of homelessness by providing permanent and affordable homes, access to support, and ongoing advocacy. 

To support WPI, we will be hosting a raffle at the breakfast. The prizes have been donated by our wonderful Strathcona community members. 

Raffle prizes:

Major Prize - Loreal Product Hamper donated by the Khuu Family. (Valued at $1200)

High Tea for 2, at No 35 Restaurant at the Sofitel Melbourne

Raffle tickets can be purchased on TryBooking along with your ticket or on the day at your table. Good luck! 

Year 7 Family Picnic/Sausage Sizzle – hosted  by the SFA
Friday 25 February from 6.30pm – 8.30pm – The Deck/Oval, Senior Campus

To kick off the year before your daughters go off to camp, the Community Relations Office, in conjunction with the Strathcona Family Association, would like to invite Year 7 families to a casual picnic on the Senior School Oval. This will be a great opportunity to meet other families in your year level and your daughter's House.

BYO picnic basket and all members of your family are welcome. A sausage sizzle will also be available.

For catering purposes, please register your attendance and how many members of your family will be joining you by clicking here.

We invite all Strathcona dads and caregivers to the Strathcona Family Association annual dads' pub night at the Hawthorn Hotel Beer Garden.

$25 per person for finger food and drinks at bar prices.A great opportunity to relax and meet other dads and have a few laughs.

Please note the Hawthorn Hotel requires you to be double vaccinated to attend and you will need to show your certificate to staff on arrival.

Relax and enjoy an evening out with other Strathcona mums and caregivers. A great opportunity to meet our new mums and reconnect with others after a long two years.

$25 per person for finger food and drinks at bar prices.

We have reserved a large private area at the recently renovated Hawthorn Hotel.

The evening has been arranged by the Strathcona Family Association Mothers' subcommittee. 

The Hawthorn Hotel will require double vaccination status to enter the function and will require proof of your COVID-19 vaccination on arrival.

Tuesday March 17 2022. Click here to book.

Asha Rao will share with us her journey to becoming a mathematician. She has not always wanted to be a mathematician. Like many career journeys, hers has not been linear. Now she is a strong advocate for girls and women studying Mathematics and will talk of the benefits of doing so. She identifies one of the differences in workforce opportunities between men and women to be their achievements in mathematics at school and will share with us her efforts to break through this source of inequity. This presentation will be valuable to those who enjoy mathematical studies and those who question whether it is worth them taking mathematics subjects any longer than they are required to.

Indian-Australian Professor and Associate Dean, and former Interim Director of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI), Prof. Asha Rao was inducted into the 2021 Victorian Honour Roll of Women in the Trailblazer category. She is passionate about mathematics and gender issues that stymie the progress of women and girls in STEM careers. As the founding chair of Women in Maths, Prof. Rao has put in place several initiatives to improve gender equity within the mathematical sciences in Australia.

You are warmly invited to Strathcona Girls Grammar Parent Seminar Series event on how to strengthen all children and teens against anxiety, and build courage and resilience with Psychologist, Karen Young.

What could our children do if they knew in their hearts they were brave enough? All children and teens are capable of their very own versions of greatness. For too many though, anxiety will shut down their capacity to discover their potential - but it doesn't have to be this way. This transformational session will provide the essential information and strategies to help all parents and carers support children and adolescents to build courage and resilience, uncover their strengths, and take anxiety back to small enough. We will discuss ways to nurture the skills and qualities that will strengthen all children for life. Participants will learn:

• a new, empowering way for children, teens, and adults to think about anxiety, and how to use this to manage anxiety;
• taking the 'anxiety out of anxiety';
• how to build courage, resilience, and confidence in children and teens with anxiety;
• proven, practical ways to calm and strengthen an anxious brain;
• the power of parents to move children towards brave behaviour, and how to do this when anxiety is in the way;
• how to respond to anxiety in the moment to make way for calm and courage;
• how children can switch on the relaxation response;
• the different ways anxiety can manifest, and what to do;
• how to build the mindset that will strengthen against anxiety and make way for brave behaviour;
• how to build the solid neural foundations of resilience in all children;
• why new behaviours take time, why old responses can feel tough to change, and the simple explanation for children and teens that can build resilience and grit.

Because we know our children are mighty. Now to make sure they know it too.

Our guest speaker for this Parent Seminar Series event is Karen Young. Karen has worked as a psychologist in private practice, and organisational and educational settings. She is now a sought-after speaker, educator, and consultant, both at home in Australia and overseas. Karen is the founder of ‘Hey Sigmund’, an internationally popular online resource that provides contemporary, research-driven information on anxiety and the neurodevelopment of children. She has written three books, including the bestselling ‘Hey Warrior’ and 'Hey Awesome', which creatively assist children to understand and manage anxiety.

We look forward to you joining us for this event.

Parents’ Night Out – Dancing Under the Stars 2
Saturday 26 March 2022

The Strathcona Family Association are delighted to invite parents to join them for a fun evening at Dancing Under the Stars 2. Last year's event was a huge success with parents enjoying an evening on the Deck socialising and dancing the night away.

Enjoy a complimentary drink on arrival and then drinks can be purchased at the bar. Bountiful finger food and a DJ to entertain you who will be happy to play your requests!

Blow the Covid cobwebs away and have a fabulous evening with other Strathcona parents!

Smart casual attire and only $45per person.

* Please note that parents must be double vaccinated to attend

You are warmly invited to this upcoming Parent Seminar Series Event. 

'Body image' has been named as one of the top concerns across adolescent age groups and genders consistently in a number of surveys and studies over the last decade. Far from being a superficial or harmless concern, body image worries can span across physical, mental and social aspects of health and life to have significant impacts on young people, their families and communities. Significantly, this topic has never been as important as has emerged over the last 2 years with the various challenges that have been presented to all of us. It's not unusual that we are concerned about our teen's body image, but we might be unsure what to do or say. Should we be concerned or not? What is 'normal' anyway?

The good news is that parents, families, schools and communities can play powerful and important roles in supporting young people to understand their own experiences and provide environments where they are more likely to take care of their bodies from a place of respect.

This Parent Seminar will be presented by Body Image specialist and Dietitian Fiona Sutherland and is for parents and caregivers who would like to understand how to support a body-positive environment at home. The aim will be for attendees to leave with a deeper understanding of how body image concerns show up, how to have constructive conversations and take timely action if/when needed.