The Importance of Participating in The Resilience Project

We are excited to share the incredible benefits of our students participating in The Resilience Project again this year. This initiative is designed to foster emotional well-being and resilience through the practice of Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness (GEM). Let's explore why these elements are so vital and how they can positively impact our students' lives.

The Power of Gratitude

Gratitude involves recognizing and appreciating the good things in our lives. By focusing on what we are thankful for, we can shift our mindset from what we lack to what we have. This simple practice can lead to increased happiness, reduced stress, and a more positive outlook on life. Encouraging our students to regularly express gratitude helps them build a foundation of positivity and resilience.

The Importance of Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It is a crucial skill for building strong, supportive relationships. When students practice empathy, they become more compassionate and considerate, which fosters a more inclusive and caring school environment. Empathy also helps students navigate social challenges and develop meaningful connections with their peers.

The Benefits of Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the moment. It helps students manage their emotions, reduce anxiety, and improve concentration. By incorporating mindfulness into their daily routines, students can develop greater self-awareness and emotional regulation. This practice not only enhances their academic performance but also contributes to their overall well-being.

The Resilience Project: What You Put In Is What You Get Out

The success of The Resilience Project depends on the active participation and commitment of our students. The more effort they put into practicing Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness, the more they will benefit from the program. Here are some ways students can engage with the project:

• Daily Gratitude Journals: Encourage students to write down three things they are grateful for each day.
• Empathy Exercises: Participate in activities that promote understanding and kindness towards others.
• Mindfulness Practices: Incorporate mindfulness exercises, such as deep breathing or meditation, into their daily routine.

How Parents Can Support at Home

Parents play a crucial role in reinforcing the principles of The Resilience Project at home. Here are some ways parents can support their children:

• Model Gratitude: Share what you are grateful for each day and encourage your child to do the same. This is a conversation that could happen around the dinner table each night.
• Practice Empathy: Discuss the importance of understanding others' feelings and model empathetic behaviour in your interactions.
• Encourage Mindfulness: Set aside time for family mindfulness activities, such as deep breathing exercises or mindful walks. Make time on the weekend to go on a family walk around a local park or neighbourhood.
• Create a Supportive Environment: Foster open communication and provide a safe space for your child to express their emotions.  Create an environment at home where your child feels safe to talk about anything and everything without judgment. Driving in the car with your children is a great place to start conversations. Sitting next to each other, rather than face to face feels comfortable for children. It is also impossible for them to leave the conversation and walk away if they are in a moving car!

The Benefits of Emotional Literacy

Emotional literacy, the ability to recognise, understand, and manage our emotions, is a key component of The Resilience Project. Developing emotional literacy helps students:

• Improve Self-Awareness: Understand their own emotions and how they affect their behaviour.
• Enhance Relationships: Communicate more effectively and build stronger, more empathetic relationships.
• Manage Stress: Develop healthy coping strategies for dealing with stress and challenges.
• Boost Academic Performance: Improve focus and concentration, leading to better academic outcomes.

Student Success Stories

We are proud to share some success stories from our students who have embraced The Resilience Project:

• Nathan’s Journey with Gratitude: Nathan started keeping a daily gratitude journal and noticed a significant improvement in his mood and outlook on life. He says, "Writing down what I'm grateful for each day has helped me focus on the positive aspects of my life, even during challenging times."
• Nash’s Empathy Growth: Nash participated in empathy exercises and found that he became more understanding and supportive of his classmates. "I've learned to see things from others' perspectives, which has made me a better friend and teammate," he shares.
• Mia’s Mindfulness Practice: Mia incorporated mindfulness into her daily routine and experienced reduced anxiety and improved concentration. "Mindfulness has helped me stay calm and focused, especially during exams," she explains.

By embracing The Resilience Project, our students can develop essential life skills that will serve them well beyond their school years. Let's support and encourage them to fully engage with the program, knowing that the effort they invest will yield significant rewards.

Thank you for your continued support in nurturing the resilience and well-being of our students.

Student Protection

Students have a right to expect that the College Staff will do all that is possible to protect them from any kind of harm and create a safe learning environment. Catholic Education is committed to best practices in Student Protection and the development of proactive approaches to equip staff with the skills and knowledge to identify risks of harm and respond appropriately.

Student Protection Contacts are available to listen to students’ concerns about their safety either at the College, at home or in the community. These contacts are approved by the Principal of the College as approachable, confidential, and trustworthy members of Staff.

Students who are concerned or worried about something that is happening to them or to someone they know, might like to talk to one of the Student Protection Contacts at the College.  Students may also speak with Year Level Deans, Pastoral Care Teachers, a trusted Teacher or another trusted adult at the College.

The Student Protection Process and Student Protection Guidelines for all Catholic Schools (Diocese of Rockhampton) are available on the Catholic Education website and our College Website.

College Student Protection Contacts:

Alison Wales Principal	Sandy McLellan Assistant Principal (Students)	Adam Vanderlinde Dean of Students (Year 9)
Jenna Eddy College Counsellor	Karen Morley College Counsellor	Colleen Gauci College Counsellor
	Adrianne Mifsud Head of Student Support

Sandy McLellan - Assistant Principal (Students)

Curriculum News

Anne Miles - Assistant Principal (Curriculum)

Administration News

NAPLAN 2025

Our Year 7 and Year 9 students will be undertaking the national NAPLAN tests during the official testing period of Wednesday, 12 March to Monday, 24 March 2025.  At HSC, our test schedule starts on Thursday, 13 March 2025 and testing will be completed by Thursday, 20 March 2025.

The NAPLAN administering authority has advised that individual students who are absent for all or part of the tests due to unavoidable circumstances or accidents may undertake ‘catch-up’ tests on the days in the test period. They will not be able to undertake ‘catch-up’ tests after the test window has closed.

If your student is unable to sit the tests due to unavoidable circumstances, please notify the College so arrangements can be made to provide a ‘catch-up’ test if possible. Where this cannot be done by the end of the testing week the student will be marked absent.

In preparation for the online NAPLAN tests, students will practice using the NAPLAN-secured web browser and testing program. 

All the test sessions will be conducted online using your student’s school laptop. For the tests, it is essential that all students have the NAP 2025 Browser app on the desktop of their school laptop. This NAP app should have automatically appeared on your student’s laptop - please check that this is the case. The icon for the app is shown on the left. For students who did not purchase their laptop through the school please go to https://www.assessform.edu.au/naplan-online/locked-down-browser and follow the steps to install this app. If you require assistance, please have your student go to the IT Help Desk (Room 12) prior to Thursday, 13 March 2025. 

Furthermore, students are to ensure that they have a fully charged laptop and headset with them at school on these days.

If you have any questions relating to these tests, please feel free to contact me at the College or access the information for parents on the NAPLAN website https://nap.edu.au/naplan/for-parents-carers.

Withdrawing your student from NAPLAN

Please note that any parent or guardian, who intends to withdraw their student from the NAPLAN testing program due to religious beliefs or philosophical objection to the testing, must complete and submit a signed Record of Parent/Carer Withdrawal form to the Principal by Wednesday, 12 March 2025. This form is available from the College Office or alternatively, this form can be electronically forwarded to you.

Yours faithfully,

Camille Morris - Deputy Principal (Administration)