Head of College - Mr Richard Ford
Opening night for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has arrived, and the four shows scheduled over the coming days will be magical. Do endeavour to get along and support the students, staff and parents who have worked so hard over recent months to bring the show to the BMEC stage.
Across the College staff team, we are fortunate to have many excellent people. This week, I wanted to acknowledge the College’s Property Team who work throughout the day (and night when needed) to take care of the expansive grounds which students enjoy each day. Maintaining the grounds in the heat of summer days can be particularly demanding and the team daily push on completing a myriad of seen and, more often than not, unseen tasks.
Over the next week, the Property Team will be helping to prepare for Evening Under the Stars on Saturday 7 March. This is the main whole of College parent gathering for the year, and we would love to see a large number of parents present together on this evening. Please register here to attend by this coming Monday 2 March. Boarder parents are welcome to be part of a weekend of activities with their child on the evening of Friday 6 March and morning of Sunday 8 March by registering here.
Also coming up in March is our first Leadership Lunch for the year. On Monday 9 March, Emily Watts (Class of 2019) will be returning to the College to share about her time last year competing in the Tour de France Femmes in France and her many other achievements as an endurance athlete. All Senior School students will hear Emily in assembly, and the College community are welcome to register to engage with her over lunch. For catering purposes, please register here for this free event.
Finally, one illegal and damaging product which concerningly has become more prevalent in Australia over recent years are vapes. While the number of young people using vapes may be starting to decrease, there are still too many people who have been lured in by their colourful packaging and sweet flavours. Sadly, little thought is often given to what the vape contains and all too quickly people become addicted.
NSW Health have looked to bring to people’s attention the contents of a vape in their campaign, Do you know what you’re vaping? I have referred parents to this site before and do so again, particularly if you are a parent of a teenager. Please do read up about vapes by exploring the resources from NSW Health, and then have a conversation with your child.
Some key facts from NSW Health are:
- Many vapes contain nicotine making them addictive;
- Vapes can contain the same harmful chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish; remover, weed killer and bug spray;
- Vapes can leave young people at increased risk of depression and anxiety;
- The nicotine in 1 vape can = 50 cigarettes. Depending on the size of the vape and nicotine strength, it can be much higher;
- Young people who vape are 3 times as likely to take up smoking cigarettes;
- Vape aerosol is not water vapour;
- Testing has shown that vapes labelled ‘nicotine-free’ can have high nicotine levels;
- Vaping has been linked to lung disease; and
- Vapes can cause long-lasting damaging effects on the brain and physical development.
In NSW, it is a criminal offence to sell vapes to people under eighteen or for a person to vape at a school. While legally this is the case, all too often, young people across Australia are getting their hands on vapes or sharing a vape between them.
While as parents and educators, we normally encourage sharing, when it comes to vapes, sharing of a vape from one student to another will be treated by the College as a form of drug supply.
Students whose decisions have led them to vape will need the support of families if they are to succeed in starting a new chapter which is free from vaping. If you are aware that this is a journey your child needs to go on, I would encourage you to make contact with your GP or Quitline counsellors (13 7848) and to also alert the relevant Head of School so we can discuss what support the College can provide.
Each student at the College carries with them a range of responsibilities. College expectations, in addition to state legislation, make it clear that there is no place for any type of illegal drug within a school context.
While one of the College’s values is Compassion, this does not mean a student who ignores these expectations will not face consequences for their choices. Ultimately, this would not be loving for either the individual student or the wider College community.
As parents of the College, let me encourage you to continue learning about and engaging with your child about matters like vaping. It is a conversation which can be easily put off, but where parent input is needed.
If any information comes from these conversations which you would like to share with the College, please always be in touch with your Head of Year at the Senior School or the relevant Head of School in the first instance.
Having these hard conversations with our children and, if needed, having some hard consequences for them, can be the most loving thing as parents that we ever do.
Mr Richard Ford
Head of College
