F a l c o n
B u l l e t i n ISSUE 5
Falcon Wellbeing, Careers, Library + more
Hey NSB!
We’re Alex and Lucas, your SWAT executives for 2024. We are thrilled to introduce our brand new wellbeing initiative, the Falcon Wellbeing Newsletter! In this section of the Falcon Bulletin, we will be covering a wide range of topics, from stress management and mindfulness to nutrition, exercise, and sleep hygiene. We look forward to embarking on this journey towards a healthier, happier, and more balanced school environment with you.
Stress: A Double-Edged Sword
At some point in our lives, we’ve all probably met a great disturbance to our peace of mind: Stress. You know, that feeling you get when a test is slowly approaching, or when you realise you left behind something important. Well, don’t worry, you’re not alone, we’ve all experienced this sensation before.
We like to describe stress as a double-edged sword. Sometimes stress can be leveraged as a motivator, and it can even be essential to our survival. However, when you become too stressed at one time, it can undermine your mental and physical health and ultimately become harmful.
According to the World Health Organisation, stress can be defined as “a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation”. Stress is an entirely natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives (e.g. school, relationships, social life). Everyone experiences stress to some degree BUT it’s the way we respond to and deal with stress that makes a big difference to our overall well-being.
As a student at North Sydney Boys High School, stress can manifest itself in several different aspects of our lives, often disrupting productivity, inner peace and wellbeing. A little bit of stress is inevitable, but often that’s a good thing! In the graph below, it is evident that a balanced amount of stress can help you meet your daily challenges and motivates you to reach your goals. This type of stress is called ‘positive stress’. However, when you feel stressed to the point that it overwhelms you and affects your day-to-day life, it is important to recognise and address it immediately.
Negative stress has the capacity to affect us in numerous ways including our emotions and how we behave, but there are clear-cut symptoms that indicate its presence. If you are stressed, you may feel:
• That you are unable to enjoy yourself
• Constantly worried or tense
• Neglected or lonely
• Anxious, nervous or afraid
• Overwhelmed
Stress at times can feel overwhelming, like a constant weight trying to push you down. Here are some of our favourite ways you can deal with stress:
Mindfulness - The Power of Being Present
When you find yourself dealing with excessive amounts of stress, becoming more present and aware in the moment may help you respond to these challenges more effectively. Introducing mindfulness. Mindfulness is essentially a human superpower which allows us to be fully present and aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not be overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Below are some simple ways to introduce a little bit of mindfulness into your life to help reduce stress:
• Deep breathing
Try breaking your breath down into three parts, filling first the lower abdomen, followed by the ribs, and then the chest. Set a timer for a few minutes and give it a go. When you find yourself distracted, bring awareness back to the practice and notice yourself breathing gently.
• Meditating
Meditating is a very practical way to promote mindfulness and it can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance. You can use this to relieve your stress by focusing on something that calms you (e.g. a pet, nature, music). For meditation, we recommend a free app called “Medito”, where you can discover a variety of guided sessions that will help you foster mindfulness and remain present. No matter how you meditate, it is essential that you stay patient and consistent because fear not, results will come!
It’s okay to feel stressed from time to time, but the important thing is to maintain a healthy balance over the amount of stress you experience. If you notice that your friends or peers are stressed, your support and showing that you care goes a long way. If you’re struggling with stress or any other mental health concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us, your teacher, your parents, school counsellor, or anyone that you feel comfortable speaking with.
See you soon!
World Health Organisation - Stress
What is Stress?
10 Stress Management Techniques
Mindfulness
Beyond Blue Kids Helpline
Q and A + Feedback Forms
https://forms.gle/ChFiAKa87VKXdbWp6
In 2024, Year 10 students - including students in the Support Unit - are required to undertake a week of work experience. Work experience provides students with the opportunity to experience the world of work in a situation that may be linked to their intended future vocation. It is a powerful reminder that the end of school is now on the horizon for Year 10 students and that the world of work and career awaits ...
The official Work Experience week in 2024 will run from 25–29 November (Week 7, Term 4). The yearly exams for Year 10 are in Weeks 3 & 4. Whilst the official work experience week is in Week 7, Term 4, it may be possible for students to undertake work experience – or even a second placement - in Weeks 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. Please note however that work experience undertaken outside the official work experience week is taken as ‘unapproved leave’. Parents would need to advise the school in advance by email that the student was taking leave for the purpose of work experience. To access all documents relating to work experience in 2024 including the Student Placement Record and the ‘Work Experience - How To’ document, please click here.
Resources to assist in the search for work experience
Ideally, Year 10 students are encouraged to source their own work experience placement using the resources provided. However, parents are very welcome to support this process of assisting students to secure work experience in their business or at their place of employment or through their personal and professional networks.
Students have been extensively briefed on the work experience process and get fortnightly reminders about the need to secure a work experience every careers class. Students are able to access resources via their Careers Google Classroom under Classwork/Work Experience. In this location, they can find Excel spreadsheets detailing what students did in 2023 and in previous years. It is very important that these documents are only accessed by students and must not be shared externally.
If you have any additional questions about work experience, please read all the documents first and then get in touch via email: robert.miller20@det.nsw.edu.au
You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone!
The importance of the library to the whole school community was reinforced during our recent closure for the remediation of the leaking roof. Both students and staff were anxious to know when they would be able to return to the space which provides both comfort and stimulation. A consequence of the roof work was the discovery of a resident possum that was initially resistant to the enticements offered by the pest control company. It has since been relocated to an unspecified area within a small radius of the school.
We have recently collaborated with the HSIE and English Faculties in the provision of resources for a joint Year 10 unit on the History of Film focusing on the Vietnam War. New resources were purchased for the unit and academic articles sourced from our academic journal database JSTOR. This provides valuable research experience in preparation for senior study.
The Year 7 cohort are currently studying a unit on Effective Search Strategies in their library classes. This expands on their use of search engines by improving their keyword development to make their topic more specific. By using additional strategies that narrow their results they can generate non-commercial domains and better quality academic sites.
We are preparing to celebrate the Japanese Tanabata Wish Festival in the Library with a display of traditional Tanzaku cards created by our Year 8 Japanese students. We will choose three cards from the class of Sensei Katy Gilles, to submit in the annual competition held by the Language Teachers Association of NSW (which we won last year).
In celebration of the Year of the Dragon, Year 10 students created some beautiful ink paintings in the style of traditional Chinese brushwork. Painted on rice paper, they form a subtle line of hangings above the bookshelves. Our glass display cabinet at the entrance to the library has become a temporary aviary with the addition of colourful paper bird sculptures by our Year 8 Visual Arts students. This exhibition followed an impressive display of hydraulic pumps engineered by Technical and Applied Science (TAS) students.
Our HSC music students have been performing in the library at our Friday Lunchtime Concerts in preparation for their assessments. The library is a perfect location for this performance practice with a small audience, and the piano accommodates solo performance or accompaniment for other instruments. The library acoustics are good, and the lightfilled space provides a warm and conducive environment for appreciating the work of our students.
The recent event at the State Library New South Wales “Lit Up! Stories Behind the Stories” provided a great opportunity for professional learning and collaboration for teacher librarians. Guest speakers included Sally Rippin, the new Australian Children’s Laureate and Bruce Whatley speaking on his career writing and illustrating children’s books. The State Library provides valuable access to our senior students to their vast array of databases that are recommended for research.
In recognition of Aboriginal Reconciliation and Sorry Day, we have displayed several of our most recent purchases that add to our extensive collection of resources supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. This includes works of fiction and non-fiction and features the work Praiseworthy by Alexis Wright that won the 2024 Stella Prize.
During the April school holidays, 35 North Sydney and 15 Normanhurst students embarked on the USA Technology Tour. These students, driven by their passion for STEM subjects and aspirations for careers in technology, wanted to gain firsthand experience in the industry.
Our journey commenced in Los Angeles where we explored the Carnegie Observatory, where Albert Einstein once delivered a speech. We were privileged to have guided tours of UCLA, Boeing Satellite Systems, and Paramount Studios which offered invaluable insights into university life and the workings of the technology sector. We also visited Disneyland and had a lot of fun exploring the park but also participated in an interactive workshop leading us behind the scenes of many attractions.
In San Francisco, we delved into the rich history of technology at the Intel Museum and Computer History Museum, and experienced innovation firsthand at The Tech Interactive. We engaged in several conferences featuring speakers from the conglomerate Tata Consultancy Services and alumni currently working in Silicon Valley, to the founder and CEO of a start-up ‘Milo’ and ‘Headline’, a venture capital firm. We also visited iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, alongside visits to Stanford University and the visitor centres of Apple and Google.
Overall, the trip was a blend of enriching experiences and educational moments, shaping our understanding of the technology industry and broadening our horizons for the future. We would like to express our immense gratitude to teachers Mr. Pillay, Mr. Dopierala, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Shirlaw and Mr. Abas for the immense time and effort they have put into organising everything and making the excursion possible.
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On 5 June 2024, we attended the Secondary Schools Student Leadership Program at NSW Parliament House, where student leaders from around the state were given the opportunity to develop their knowledge of our system of government and parliamentary proceedings, and the role of the Governor of NSW.
There was a panel meeting with the various school’s electorate Members of Parliament, including the MP for North Shore, Felicity Wilson, who shared her journey into politics, as well as a shared passion for increasing representation for groups such as youth and women.
NSW Parliament House was an enlightening experience, as we were exposed to how politicians carried out their duties in order to meet the needs of society. Specifically, this was seen during Question Time, where it was clear that the members of parliament felt strongly and passionately about issues that were critical to the community, such as increased expenditure for housing, and improving outcomes for domestic violence victims. Hence, the biggest takeaway from this is a call to action, where if you feel like you can make a change, then be encouraged to strive to realise that vision.
During the afternoon, we also attended a guided tour of Government House, where we had the privilege of meeting the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC. As she addressed the multiple roles she fulfilled as Governor, I was most affected by her discussion of community engagement. Speaking passionately about her service across New South Wales, she emphasised the duty of leaders to empower others and catalyse positive change. In a similar vein to Her Excellency, I would also like to invite students to lead in accordance with the Falcon Code, leaving a legacy of integrity that would pave a brighter future.
This was an enlightening opportunity, and it was great to be able to see both the Parliament in action, and hear Her Excellency’s valuable insights!
127 Falcon Street North Sydney, NSW, 2060
P: +61 (02) 9955 4748 - E: northsydbo-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au https://northsydbo-h.schools.nsw.gov.au
north sydney boys High School