A Positive Mental Attitude

From Year 8

Welcome back to Term 3!

The Year 8 students have commenced another Term dedicated to learning, academic development and personal development. Our ongoing theme for Year 8, ‘Embracing Change’ continues into Semester 2, in conjunction with encouraging students to transition out of their Comfort Zones into the Learning and Growth Zones.

Semester 2 brings exciting change for the Year 8 students, with new electives stimulating creative and critical thinking already in the first two weeks back! I encourage the students to embrace a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) in Semester 2, seeking support from their teachers, families and peers. A student who approaches their education with a Positive Mental Attitude demonstrates hope, optimism, courage and kindness. It is important to remember that at St Aloysius we embrace every opportunity to be curious learners and become brilliant in our unique ways. Another exciting change is a leadership changeover for Class Co-Captains. This will be a great opportunity for new candidates to showcase their leadership skills working collaboratively with their Pastoral Leaders, peers, Siobhan Bloomfield and me.

To begin the Term, Year 8 Coaching provided the students with an opportunity to reflect and analyse their Academic Goals, Approaches To Learning and Subject Reports for Semester 1. An interrelationship exists between reflective practice and success, with the Year 8 students establishing new achievable goals for this semester.

In Nourish the Year 8 students have begun a Cyber Safety Unit. The purpose of this unit is to provide students with the key principles for respectful and responsible online behaviour as digital citizens.

The following topics will be discussed:

  • What is Cyber Safety?
  • Netiquette and Digital Citizenship
  • Digital Footprint and Digital Nutrition
  • Digital Privacy

House Co-Curricular Activities continue in Semester 2 for the Year 8 students, working alongside the Year 7 students to create projects. Term 3 will be a busy one with the students finalising their projects!

I am eager to see what this new Term brings and to observe the continuous, positive progress of our Year 8 students as life-long learners.

Emma Turner
Year 8 Leader