Dear Parents/Guardians and students,

Grade assemblies continued this week and it was wonderful to be able to connect with more and more students in this manner. Some students proved they were risktakers by performing in front of their peers at this early stage of the year. It is so wonderful to see and hear about the many talents our students have and we encourage more of them to perform at upcoming assemblies.

I did write last week about the difficulty that some students may have in returning to routines associated with school. An area of focus this week is students ensuring that they have enough sleep. Many students arrived to school looking a little worse for wear and in chatting to them they disclosed that they did not have enough sleep. Teenagers ideally require 10 hours of sleep each night. The physical and hormonal changes they are experiencing is draining to say the least, and their body needs time to recover. To avoid sleep deprivation in teenagers, it is also important that their bedroom is dark. Any light source, even a power light for a laptop or a tv, will convince the brain that it is not time to sleep. As per outlined by Better Health, Victoria, the effects of sleep deprivation on teenagers have the ability to impact their schooling. Please do chat to your teenage children about the importance of sleep and the potential impact.

The effects of chronic (ongoing) sleep deprivation may include:

• concentration difficulties

• mentally ‘drifting off’ in class

• shortened attention span

• memory impairment

• poor decision making

• lack of enthusiasm

• moodiness and aggression

• depression

• risk-taking behaviour

• slower physical reflexes

• clumsiness, which may result in physical injuries

• reduced sporting performance

• reduced academic performance

• increased number of ‘sick days’ from school because of tiredness

• truancy.

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/teenagers-and-sleep#bhc-content

We would like to welcome all parents to our Curriculum Evening this Thursday Sept 15th. This will be an opportunity for you to learn more about the MYP, DP and CP; and you will have the opportunity to chat to our Heads of Departments at the subject stalls. We will offer a rotation of programme presentations, (as outlined below), as well as a the subject stalls on display in The Lounge. We do look forward to welcoming families onto campus.

Finally, this week, I have noticed the vast improvement in the wearing of the school uniform. Thank you to all families who have ensured that students arrive to school, dressed appropriately, including footwear and tie. The positive tone set by this standard, and the sense of belonging it instills in our students is invaluable to their wellbeing.

Have a wonderful week.

Amanda Murphy

Head of Secondary School

At GIS, we place great importance on community well-being, and we are delighted to announce our partnership with Upstrive Education!

Upstrive Education is a practical and efficient online platform (and mobile app) that will better enable us to identify and address the social, emotional and academic needs of the young people in our care, through real-time data and feedback that provides valuable insights on student well-being both inside and outside the classroom.

Through the Upstrive online platform and mobile app, students will:

• Develop greater levels of self-awareness and the ability to equip themselves with their own personalised toolkit to successfully and responsibly overcome challenges.

• Enhance their self-management skills through a range of bespoke courses that focus on creating confidence, building resilience, SMART goal setting, and lots more.

• Have a safe platform through which they can to communicate and access science-backed tools to help them look after their own mental, physical, emotional and social well-being.

More information about the launch of Upstrive Education at GIS will follow in due course!

Students are encouraged to bring a packed lunch to school - particularly while COVID-19 restrictions are in place - as it ensures that they are able to eat and drink as required throughout the school day.

If you wish to make use of the Slices catering service, please note that:

1. Food deliveries will not be permitted from external restaurants/catering services.

2. Food orders must be ordered through Slices in advance by completing this GOOGLE FORM.

• Orders for following weeks must be placed by 10am each Friday.

• Orders must be placed in advance for the full week (Monday to Thursday).

• Same-day orders/deliveries will not be possible.

3. Food orders will be delivered to the students' classroom.

4. Students will not be permitted to visit the canteen in order to purchase water or snacks throughout the day.

• Please consider an appropriate quantity and variety of foods to sustain your child for the duration of the school day.

• Students are encouraged to bring sufficient water with them to school to sustain them throughout the day.