Dear Members of the St Gregory’s Family,
November is a month in the Churches calendar when we remember in a special way those who have died. It has reminded me of a beautiful reflection by Tony Clarke from Marist Schools Australia on reflecting on those special ones in our lives who have passed away.
At any given time, most of the world believes that death isn’t final, that some form of immortality exists. Most people believe that those who have died still exist in some state, in some modality, in some place, in some heaven or hell, however that may be conceived.
As Christians, this is our belief: We believe that the dead are still alive, still themselves and, very importantly, still in a living, conscious and loving relationship with us and with each other. That’s our common concept of heaven, and however simplistic its popular expression at times, it is wonderfully correct.
We believe that we are still in communion with those who have died. Among other things, this says that we can relate to them, speak to them and be spoken to by them.
In this month, let us think of those who have lost loved ones, particularly those recently in our community.
St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal
Many thanks to those who have already generously contributed to our Christmas Appeal. There are members of our local community that rely each year on St Gregory’s and their thoughtfulness to make Christmas a special time, that would otherwise not be the case. Please discuss this with your children to find out how you can assist.
Recent College Events
I wish to recognise the amazing work done by the College staff since the last newsletter. Year 9 and Year 12 have completed the Rite Journey Camp and Retreat respectively, they have conducted Year 7 2026 interviews, Kindergarten Orientation and Welcome Function, the Junior School Grandparents Day, Badgally Beatz involving our Junior and Senior students, and this week Year 7 2025 Orientation Evening and Day. All in the space of three weeks. As a community we are indeed blessed to have such generous and talented staff to give our community such opportunities. All these along with our day-to-day teaching, sport, cultural and service opportunities.
Upcoming Assessment period
As we approach upcoming exams it is worth noting, world respected Educational Researcher, John Hattie, concluded after many years of his own research and analysing the work of others, that the single greatest variant regarding student achievement, outside of the student themselves, is that of the teacher.
Teachers Make a Difference. What is the research evidence?
John Hattie
University of Auckland
We are indeed blessed and fortunate at St Gregory’s to have a hard working and diligent group of professionals who have your child’s best educational interests at the core of what they do. I warmly congratulate and thank all staff for their efforts and their commitment to making St Gregory’s a place where students thrive, not merely survive! Now it is over to our students to put their best foot forward over the next month.
Parent Article
Please find below eleven great suggestions that parents can work with the College to support our most precious gifts. I urge you to read and print off a copy for your future reference.
11 ways parents can support our efforts to boost students' mental health
1. Foster self-acceptance.
Parents may provide a powerful impetus in promoting self-acceptance and high self-esteem by encouraging young people to pursue interests and skills while also stressing the value of setting realistic objectives and developing efficient methods to achieve them. Parents can facilitate a positive self-image that will help young navigate challenges more effectively.
2. Discuss difficult emotions.
Understand social norms and provide them with the skills necessary to tackle difficult emotions when they surface. Talk to your child about their feelings and encourage them to express them in healthy ways, such as through art, music, or writing. Look for ways to check in with your teen. When they open up to you, you can respond with “I understand”, “it sounds like a difficult situation”, or “that makes sense”. Remind them that you are there for them, no matter what, and that you want to hear how they are feeling and what they are thinking. Being aware and taking notice of the little things teaches us to be conscious of our mental and emotional states. Talking about what we are grateful for is also known to promote positive wellbeing. As parents, we can share what we are grateful for.
3. Build Relationships.
Research shows that healthy family relationships can reduce the chances of a teenager experiencing mental health issues. Making time for the important people in our lives and having positive relationships with friends, family, peers, and staff is essential for mental wellbeing. Encourage your child to make new friendships and maintain an active connection with their friends. This connection helps them develop a sense of belonging. Help them foster meaningful relationships with others by encouraging them to be active members of the school community, a sports team, volunteer, or just by making time for family. Understanding how to resolve conflict in relationships is also crucial.
4. Promote healthy coping skills to deal with stress and anxiety.
If your teen feels frustrated, work with them to brainstorm solutions to problems. Ask your child how they will resolve conflict for themselves. They also need to understand everyone gets stressed at times, and some stress is good stress and helps us to perform at our optimum. Talking about the worst-case scenario can also help put things in perspective.
5. Ensure sufficient good quality sleep.
Sleep is essential for positive mental health. The most significant influence on good quality sleep is mobile phones and social media, which may ‘ping’ all night long. When teenagers become stressed or down, they may also sleep more, turning their sleep patterns upside down. They might sleep all day and be awake all night. Getting young people to readjust to a circadian sleep pattern will significantly improve their mental wellbeing. Quality sleep is so important for so many aspects of life. Family expectations of no technology in bedrooms is one-way parents can ensure their child gets sufficient, quality sleep. This is critical to good learning, good decisions and positive wellbeing.
6. Limit screen time.
Interacting virtually through texting, social networking, or gaming sites is the new norm. Add to this online bullying, increased exposure to violence and inappropriate body images; it is not difficult to understand why today’s kids struggle to establish and maintain good mental health. Excessive screen time leads to inactivity, wasted time causing stress with school assessments, lack of time building face-to-face relationships and most importantly, lack of sleep. This is one of the biggest challenges for parents but can have the biggest impact on mental health.
7. Avoid power struggles.
With the world feeling unpredictable, and right now, teens might be struggling to be in control. As difficult as it can be in the moment, empathise with their desire to assert control rather than attempting to overpower their opinions. Never discuss an issue while you are angry. Walk away, take a breath; you can talk with your teen about it later, and you will have a much more productive conversation when you are both calm. This shows your teenager how you manage your emotions.
8. Encouraging them to be active.
Whether through sport, dance or any other physical activity. Co-curricular activities at school and beyond provide many opportunities and have been linked to a decreased risk of mental illness. Encouraging your child to get involved in activities they are passionate about can help them feel more connected to their school and peer group and enable them to develop confidence and feel valued for their abilities. The outdoors is a great place for promoting wellbeing.
9. Volunteer together.
It is gratifying when we give our time and energy to help someone else. It provides us with a sense of meaning and purpose. Volunteering or giving time to a cause your child feels strongly about and showing kindness will help your child understand empathy. Helping them find ways to contribute to their community will ensure they feel valued and can help build stronger relationships with parents.
10. Modelling positive mental health.
Parents can support the College’s efforts by modelling healthy habits for their children. Parents should take care of their own mental health, practice stress management, and make time for leisure activities. By modelling these behaviours, parents can show their children that taking care of their mental health is important and that while we may have stressful days, we can work through them.
11. Work in partnership.
Work with the school and other professionals to support your child’s mental health. The most important thing parents can do is be aware of the signs and symptoms of mental illness. Mental illness can manifest in many ways, so it is important to be vigilant for changes in your child’s behaviour. If you are concerned about your child, talk to a child’s teacher or a College Counsellor. Seek professional help if you are worried about your child.
While some of these suggestions are challenging to implement, it is far more challenging to resolve complex mental health issues once they arise. Prevention is a far better option. A child’s good mental health is a very elusive concept because kids are constantly changing, growing and developing, so we need to be flexible depending on a child’s needs.
Let’s partner together, parents and educators, to ensure our children have the knowledge and skills to manage their wellbeing, tackle challenges and thrive in school and life.
By working together, we can help your child thrive.
There is much to be proud of in this recent addition of our newsletter. Enjoy the read!
May St Marcellin, St Gregory and Mary Our Good Mother continue to watch over our community.
Matthew Brennan
College Principal
