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Audrey Booth got her face painted

Fun for all at Clare State School Under 8s Day

Troy Patti

IT was smiles all around at Clare State School recently with the small, rural school hosting other schools, kindergartens and the general public for its annual Under 8s Day.

Students from Ravenswood, Millaroo and Airville State Schools joined in the fun and frivolity on the day.

School Principal, Troy Patti, said that the day was great for the community and the school students relished the opportunity to catch up with their friends from other schools.

“It was great to see the community support our Under 8s Day and we loved bringing activities and opportunities that are not normally available to the children in our community,” said Mr Patti.

Activities on the day included a petting zoo, jumping castle, face painting, emergency services, water safety, art activities, robotics, woodwork, music, sports and many more.

“The petting zoo and jumping castle are always popular,” said Mr Patti, “but this year icing biscuits, the paper plane competition and the emergency services also proved very popular.”

“We were also fortunate enough to have many local organisations and businesses provide stalls and the children really enjoyed meeting Big Blue, the Sunwater mascot, and Mick the Canecutter from the Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival.”

Jayda Dumaresq at the petting zoo Staff, students and parents from Millaroo, Clare and Ravenswood schools enjoying lunch

Alyssa Booth petting a chicken

ELISA Rigano is no stranger to theatre, and it’s her musical and performing chops that have lent themselves well to her many stage management roles.

The deputy principal of Burdekin Catholic High School has been busily rehearsing her own School of Rock performers for their stage debut on the 16th of July, aided by a squadron of talent behind the scenes and a dynamic ensemble cast.

She says that everyone has been busy putting the show together for the final few weeks of rehearsals, with the other students listening in and dancing outside rehearsal rooms.

“It’s a lovely beautiful group of people who are very supportive of each other. Everything is all there. We’re just rehearsing now and jigsawing all the pieces together. It’s a nice feeling,” says Ms Rigano.

Assisting Ms Rigano is Sandra Reets, who has been busily preparing costumes and the many school uniforms for the cast with wardrobe assistants Megan Wright and Lauren Giovenco.

Anna Telford is assisting Ms Rigano with stage direction with Amaia Licciardello as vocal director.

“We really do have an

BCHS ready to rock!

amazing, amazing team,” says Ms Rigano.

“We also have students choreographing the show, which is a lovely tradition that we have. It’s great for them to show leadership as well. It works beautifully.

“Our Year 11 students who have a dance background will take small groups of the other students and take them through the routines.”

She says the show wouldn’t be possible without the talents of the cast and dedication of students and teachers, with the performance of Riley Nosworthy as Jack Black’s iconic Dewey Finn a particular standout.

“He is amazing, just a fantastic lead. He’s got this energy to burn, and I think he’s better than Jack Black, personally. I think he’s great.

“I have very talented leads and a brilliant chorus that supports them as well. I’m very, very excited to be working with these kids.”

CONNECT NOW:

Burdekin Catholic High School of Rock will be on at the Burdekin Theatre on Friday 16th July. Get your tickets at www. burdekintheatre.com.au.

Expert shares how to recognise cyberbullying in children

Marina Trajkovich

A CYBERBULLYING consultant from Parentline Queensland has shared how to identify when your children might be being bullied online and what to do about it.

Online abuse in schoolaged children and adults is a pervasive problem, one that skyrocketed in the last year as more and more activities went online due to COVID 19.

According to Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, reports of abusive behaviour online increased by 90% between 2019 and 2020.

Aaliyah Talukdar, a cyberbullying consultant from Parentline Qld, regularly travels across the state conducting parent info sessions.

“Our aim is to empower parents to feel comfortable talking to their children about what they’re doing online, particularly around cyberbullying.

“Often with young people, we will see changes in their personality, their mood, their friendship groups. It can be difficult to know when this is just “growing up”, or when something else is going on, so the best thing parents can do is ask when we notice changes and open up the dialogue,” says Aaliyah.

She says that a common question asked by parents who are worried about their children online is whether devices should be removed or their use restricted but that this perceived fix can cause other problems.

“Whilst it’s healthy to have boundaries around their use, long term removal of the device may prevent them from accessing formal support services and informal supports like friends or family as well as meaning that parents can’t contact them.

“Additionally, for young people who experience cyberbullying, it may feel as though they are being ‘punished’ by having their device removed,” says Aaliyah.

She suggests instead discussing the issue with your child and considering reporting bullying behaviour to the child’s school or reporting online abuse to the eSafety Commissioner.

She says that Parentline and Kids Helpline are great online resources and that trained counsellors are there to support parents and young people, access support and provide guidance for specific situations.

CONNECT NOW:

If your child is experiencing cyberbullying, visit parentline.com.au for online resources or call 1300 30 1300 to speak with a counsellor.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Cyberbullying encompasses any form of online abuse, harassment or intimidation. Forms of cyberbullying could include: • Posting threats of physical harm or inciting self-harm. • Sending or posting teasing and hurtful texts, emails, comments, images or videos. • Purposely excluding someone from a closed group or group chat. • Tagging someone in a hurtful or degrading image or meme. • Publishing private conversations or publicly spreading rumours online.