The year that was: A recap of 2024

As the 2024 academic year comes to an end, I've been reflecting on the fantastic experiences our students have enjoyed. Last newsletter, I shared some of the extra-curricular successes from across the year and this time around I would like to focus on our departing Year 8 cohort, who move across campus into the Senior Years come January.

I'm incredibly proud of all the Middle Years students and their progress this year, especially the Year 8s. They do not always get it right, but that is one of the reasons for our Middle Years sector. Its a safe place to grow, to develop, to make mistakes and to learn from them. All the while becoming a better version of yourself. Below is a little descriptive story summing up the Middle Years journey:

The Middle Years: A time of great change As the students enter the Middle Years and begin this transitional period of their life, they can feel like there is a storm brewing. Not in the sky above, nor on the far horizon. Instead, this storm is brewing within them. Deep within their very being, yet very hard to define or explain. Next come the changes. Boys can wake to suddenly find their voice has transformed, almost overnight. It cracks and crackles, like a radio that needs to be adjusted to a slightly new frequency. For girls and boys alike, their reflection in the mirror seems different too. Faces can become dotted with the first signs of adolescence. Limbs grow, becoming awkwardly long, as if too long for the body they are connected to. Coordination that once was simple and natural, becomes more clumsy and uneasy.    At school, the world shifts around them. Friends, once carefree and playful, are now grappling with their own changes. Emotions run high, like waves crashing against the shore, unpredictable and intense. Conversations once built on laughter begin to develop a suite of new and sometimes unpredictable emotions. Friendships get tested by the tides of growing up. Some bend under the pressure, taking on a slightly different shape, others fracture and break.   Despite the chaos, there is a sense of wonder in this transformation. Students discover new interests and passions. Their mind expands like the branches of a Moreton Bay Fig. Some find solace in music or in books. Others develop physical powers that act to amplify their abilities, allowing them to take great leaps forward in their sporting prowess. Some others immerse themselves in online worlds where they try to escape to a realm where almost anything is possible.  As the seasons change, so too do all Middle Years students. Over the course of time, they learn to navigate the turbulent waters of adolescence, finding strength in the support of their family, friends, and teachers. In time, the storm within begins to calm and on the other side emerges a new individual. A little bit older,  a little bit wiser, and a little bit more resilient. In the end, the students realise that this journey, though challenging, was a beautiful part of growing up. A time of discovery, of forging an identity, and of learning who it is they wish to become. As they end their time in the Middle Years, students feel well cared for, well prepared, and more confident to tackle the next set of challenges that lay ahead of them, here at school and beyond the classroom.

While we soon welcome a new cohort of Year 5s into the fold, it is at this time we also need to say goodbye to the seniors of the sector, our departing Year 8 cohort. Thank you to the role models, and the leaders among you. Thank you for the laughs and the memories. There were challenges along the way, but that is part of growing up in the Middle Years. I trust that you are excited about your next phase (and definitely the holidays). We wish you all the best for your move into the Senior Years.

Staying Safe online through the holidays

Christmas is a wonderful time of giving and receiving. Technology and personal devices re a common gift each Christmas and with that in mind, it is important that families work proactively to ensure our young people stay safe online this holiday break. Here are some tips from the eSafety Commissioner:

• Build an open trusting relationship around technology
  Keep communication open and supportive so your child knows they can come to you if something goes wrong or does not feel right online.
  
  
• Co-view and co-play with your child online
  This will help you understand what they are doing and why they enjoy an app, game or website, as well as providing a great opportunity to start conversations about online safety.
  
  
• Build good habits and help your child to develop digital intelligence and social and emotional skills
  For example: respect, empathy, critical thinking, responsible behaviour and resilience — and practice being good online citizens.
  
  
• Empower your child
  Wherever possible, help them make wise decisions for themselves, rather than telling them what to do. Try to provide them with strategies for dealing with negative online experiences that will build their confidence and resilience.
  
  
• Use devices in open areas of the home
  This can help you manage and be aware of who your child interacts with online through phones, tablets, smart TVs, gaming consoles and other connected devices.
  
  
• Set time limits that balance time spent in front of screens with offline activities
  A family technology plan can help you to manage expectations around where and when technology use is allowed — search online for templates or examples.
• Know the apps, games and social media sites your kids are using
  Make sure they are age-appropriate and learn how to limit messaging or online chat and location-sharing functions within apps or games, as these can expose your child to unwanted contact and disclose their physical location. The eSafety Guide includes information to help parents and carers choose safer apps and report and block unwanted contact and sexual approaches.
  
  
• Check the privacy settings on the games and apps your child is using
  Make sure their profiles are turned on to the strictest privacy setting. Restrict who can contact your child or ask them to check in with you before accepting new friends.
  
  
• Use available technologies to set up parental controls on devices
  Choose technology that can filter harmful content, monitor your child’s use and limit or block their time on connected devices or functions (e.g. cameras, in-app purchases).
  
  
• Be alert to signs of distress and know where to go for more advice and support.

For the full document about keeping children safe online, please use this link to the Online Safety Commission document – Keeping Children Safe Online - Advice for Parents.

Middle Years Camps

In the Middle Years, we aim to provide a diverse array of experiential learning opportunities. From gold-hunting excursions and visits to Parliament House to incursions featuring guest speakers such as representatives from the Queensland Police Service, we strive to extend learning beyond the traditional classroom. These experiences allow students to engage with education in various environments. Our camps are a crucial component of this approach.

Here is what is on offer in the way of camps in 2025:

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday period. I look forward to working with you again in 2025. 

Kind regards, 

Craig Cullen

Assistant Principal Middle Years