Published on: 17 June 2021

  • Year 10 and 11 socials
  • Peggy Orenstein presentation
  • Parent forum – mental health
  • Rock Workshop Extravaganza

I hope our Year 10 and 11 boys, along with their partners, enjoyed their successful year group events last Friday and Saturday night. The atmosphere was energetic, and I would like to thank the staff involved in the evening, along with the many parent representatives who make these type of events possible.

Earlier this month our Wynne Centre for Boys’ Health and Wellbeing, in conjunction with MLC, invited Peggy Orenstein to present on the subject of Consent and Respectful Relationships. Peggy is an internationally-acclaimed expert on the challenges facing teens – and their parents – as they come of age in today’s culture. She is known for her provocative insight, conversational style and surprising wit. Although located in the USA, Peggy agreed to film her presentation for parents to view at home. The presentation is aimed at families with boys in Years 10 to 12 and is now available to watch via this link until 25 June. The following password will be required to view the presentation: dBq#b=3s.

Parents may have seen in the year group notices that next Wednesday the Wynne Centre for Boys’ Health and Wellbeing is hosting a forum for parents on boys’ mental health. Aimed at parents of boys in Years 10 to 12, this forum is designed to provide parents with information on how to support your son’s mental health, understand what is happening in their brain and spot signs that someone might be struggling with their mental health. The forum will be delivered by clinical psychologist Kim Mercer and Director of The Wynne Centre for Boys’ Health and Wellbeing, Liam Casson. Kim is part of the Mental Health Referral Network for the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and works with athletes who are competing at a national and international level. There are only 15 spaces still available for this special event. If you are interested in attending please register via this link.

On Sunday 27 June our Rock Workshop students will be performing in the Chapel Forecourt as part of the Rock Workshop Extravaganza. This event is always a highlight in the year, when the community can picnic on the Chapel lawn and witness the incredible talents of our boys as they celebrate the many sub-genres of rock music. Bookings can be made via this link. If you or your son take an interest in Music and want to see what the Music Department is all about I thoroughly recommend you join us at this event.

This weekend’s sport fixture will see us play against Hale at home (but away for Year 10 boys) and The Wynne Centre for Boy’s Health and Wellbeing will be holding a safeTALK workshop for our Year 11 boys to provide valuable skills in suicide prevention on Saturday afternoon.

This week has presented challenges to the Senior School with the passing away of a Year 8 student. The School community has banded together to support each other and the family through this tough time and will continue to do so over the coming weeks and months. Our thoughts are with the family as we respect their need for privacy. Please make contact with your son’s Head of House if you have any concerns about your son during this difficult time.

Good luck to the House Captains who have the very important task of nominating a song for the House Shout competition which will begin next term.

Mark Morrissy
Acting Head of Senior School