Filter Content
- Principal's Report
- Quiz Night
- Year 11 and 12 Report
- Year 10 Report
- Middle School Report
- Student Support
- Music Camp
- Science
- Languages
- Certificate II in Tourism Excursion
- Vocational and Educational Training
- From the Career Practioner
- Mental Health and Well-Being
- From the Community Health Nurse
- Vac Swim
- Kalamunda Cricket Club
- Hills Junior Hockey
I hope that everyone has had a good start to Term 3.
COVID update
Although we are starting to recover from the huge impact covid had on us last term, we are continuing to experience cases in the community. You will be aware of the changes to the close contact exemption period from 12 weeks to 28 days, and the changes to eligibility for a winter booster for many in the community. We thank everyone for their diligence in ensuring that we do everything we can to minimise the spread of covid by following the Health Department guidelines.
Year 10 Course counselling
Year 10 course selections have now closed and a timetable grid is being generated based on these selections. In this way we are able to provide a wide range of course selections that match the choices of the students. In some cases, however, where there are small numbers of students selecting a subject, we may be unable to run a course. In these situations, students will be placed in their reserve courses. Final confirmation of student selection will be made during parent interviews on 16 and 18 August.
Music Concert and Camp
Last term our music students held their concert on 21 June. It was a wonderful way to finish the term, with the acapella group providing a surprise serenade for our front office staff and visitors to the school.
This term the music students attended their music camp in Week 3. We thank all our music staff and IMSS teachers who have been a part of organising these special events for our students.
NAIDOC Week
We finished last term by celebrating NAIDOC week with special year group assemblies, special guests and activities. Thank you to our students and staff for organising the activities this week. In particular, we thank Year 7 Mia Grant-Comeagain for sharing Nyungar language with us in her acknowledgement and also to Year 12 Olivia Kalin for her special artwork.
Olivia’s art work is painted on two canvases connecting two art works as one. The artwork depicts the meeting place of Darlington, with symbols that represent higher land and mountain ranges, as well as housing, gathering spots of bush trails and turning points along with the Helena River passing through the mountain ranges.
Good standing – student rewards
At Kalamunda SHS we encourage all students to maintain their Good Standing. This includes demonstrating respectful behaviour at all times, wearing school uniform with pride and attending school and classes with resilience. Given the disruption with covid to attendance, we have not included this aspect in the Good Standing review for Semester 1 this year.
Students were rewarded with nachos for our Middle School students and burgers for our Senior School students.
Our wonderful canteen staff prepared these rewards for the students which were very popular. We thank our P&C for supporting the canteen and as always welcome parents as volunteers. Any time that you can provide is greatly appreciated. In particular, we are calling for volunteers to assist on the House Track and Field Carnival to be held on 26 August.
St George’s Cathedral Art Exhibition
Congratulations to Isabel Jeffreys for her entry in the St George’s Cathedral Art exhibition. Her piece reflects the present-day Pripyat Amusement Park in Chernobyl.
Kalamunda SHS – art student exhibition
We are very excited to be exhibiting our student’s artwork this year in the Zig Zag Gallery.
Musical Oliver
Each year our KPA students perform a musical – with this year’s offering of Oliver. This will be held on the 2nd and 3rd of September and tickets are on sale already.
Robotics club
Students participating in the KSHS Robotics club spent time during the holidays working on a special project. They are building a robot to participate in the FRC competition coming up shortly. We wish them all the best for this event, and send a huge thank you to Science teacher Amber Bullock who has been supporting the students.
Year 11 - Career preparation sessions
Our Year 11 students have been participating in some special workshops on resume writing and interview techniques, organised by our Career Practitioner Amanda Moreno Diaz.
Languages Week
Week 3 of this term we celebrated Languages week. You can read more about this in this issue. We thank all our language teachers and assistants for their energy and enthusiasm in making language learning fun at Kalamunda SHS.
As well as organising activities for our school, our staff also visited local primary schools to share in the celebration.
Building update
If you have visited the site recently, you will see that the footings and concrete reinforcements are now in place for the Art block and the Teaching block groundwork is nearing completion.
Principal
Term 3 is fast drawing to a completion and it is paramount for all Year 12 students to put in every effort to get all of their courses and certificates completed, achieve the maximum marks possible and be determined that you did your very best. There is undeniably time left before the finishing post, so confidently take the steps required for a successful completion of Year 12. Year 11 students still have some way to go, so there is every chance for them to put in their best efforts to get those grades moving in the right direction and be able to progress into Year 12.
Information will soon be available, detailing the procedures and events pertinent to the Year 12 students’ final weeks at school. Mock exams take place in the second week of the next school holidays. Good luck to all our Year 12s sitting mock exams. A gentle reminder that the mock exams are a significant part of Year 12 assessments and are valued preparation for the WACE exams starting in November next term. WACE exam timetables are available; please remember they are your entrance ticket to the WACE exams.
Leavers Jackets
Preparation and planning has started for the 2023 Leavers Jackets, our student leaders are meticulously considering style, colour and fabric, optimistically arriving at the best outcome for all. With this in mind Year 11 students need to remain dedicated to this year, maintain their Good Standing and finish Year 11 off well, to be eligible to move into Year 12 in 2023.
Sharon AndrewsProgram Coordinator - Pathways
Firstly, I would like to say a huge thank you to all of the Year 10s and their parents for getting their subject choices in on time. It has been a very busy time of year, and our Year 10 students have been active participants in the subject selection process. It is important to remember that students should use Semester 2 to the fullest in order to prepare themselves for the challenges of Year 11. All students should reflect on their efforts, set new goals and work to achieve their best in order to finish this year with a positive mindset.
A reminder to attend school in full uniform and keep mobile phones and earphones in bags throughout the school day. Breaches will be recorded and can negatively impact good standing. Students will need to have good standing to be invited to attend our Year 10 Dinner Dance which is held during Term 4.
We have had a very positive start to Term 3 and I look forward to a happy and productive term ahead. Stay safe and remember if you need any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me amber.bullock@education.wa.edu.au.
Amber BullockWith Semester 1 well and truly over, the work toward the end of this year and the start of next year begins. With this in mind it is a great time to have a chat with students about what they can do to move forward. I think with the recent Commonwealth games it is a great time to look at that idea of 'personal best'.
Personal best is something that your student should be aiming for as well. That doesn’t mean necessarily achieving an 'A' but what it means is that the Attitude, Behaviour and Effort (ABE) ratings for each course in their report have real meaning. These ratings give you an indication of how well that student is applying themselves in class. Are they working to the best of their ability and being a helpful and active participant in the class and also completing work when they are asked? If the ABE ratings are all in the Consistently and Often category then students are giving themselves every opportunity to achieve their personal best.
As I said, this may not equate to an 'A' but it means that they should (and so should you) be very proud of their semester’s work. When it comes to setting goals in Middle School, I think that the ABEs are just as, if not more, important than grades. Please discuss these with your student as moving the ABEs into Consistently and Often go a long way to achieving that Personal Best.
Middle School students, it’s all about Personal Best.
Teenagers and Sleep
I have also just recently come across an article on Teenagers and Sleep. The article is available at https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/teenagers-and-sleep and covers a wide range of questions about adolescents and sleep. A couple of key points from the article that 'talk' directly to teenagers are:
Top sleep tips for teenagers
The typical teenage brain wants to go to bed late and sleep late the following morning, which is usually hard to manage. You may be able to adjust your body clock but it takes time. Suggestions include:
- Choose a relaxing bedtime routine; for example, have a bath and a hot milky drink before bed, or use meditation or mindfulness activities. Gentle yoga may also help.
- Avoid screens such as computers, TV or smart phones, loud music, homework or any other activity that gets your mind racing for at least an hour before bedtime.
- Avoid stimulants in the evening like coffee, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks.
- Keep your bedroom dark at night. Your brain’s sleep–wake cycle is largely set by light received through the eyes. Try to avoid watching television or using smart phones right before bed. In the morning, expose your eyes to lots of light to help wake up your brain.
- Do the same bedtime routine every night for at least four weeks to make your brain associate this routine with going to sleep.
- Start your bedtime routine a little earlier than usual (for example, 10 minutes) after four weeks. Do this for one week.
- Add an extra 10 minutes every week until you have reached your desired bedtime.
- Get active during the day so you are more physically tired at night.
- Set up a comfortable sleep environment.
- Set up a regular wake-up time.
- Avoid staying up late on the weekends. Late nights will undo your hard work.
- Remember that even 30 minutes of extra sleep each night on a regular basis makes a big difference. However, it may take about six weeks of getting extra sleep before you feel the benefits.
As a parent/carer, you play an important role in helping your child attend every day and get the most out of school.
There are a number of things you can do to help your child attend every day.
Be aware
- Monitor their attendance. Keep an idea on how many days they miss.
- If they feel physically ill, check to see if anything is going on at school or if they feel anxious.
- Speak with your child's teacher to find out how they are going and how you can support them.
- Attend parent events and information sessions.
Talk and share
- Talk about school in a positive way with your child so they want to go.
- Talk about the benefits of school and value for them.
- Ask your child how they are going at school and about their friends.
- Support them to identify solutions to any issues or concerns they may have.
- Encourage your child to set personal goals related to school each term, and acknowledge their efforts and achievements.
- Find out about what your child would like to do in their future and discuss the pathways available to them.
Support routines and organisation
- Help your child develop the habit of going to school every day.
- Set a morning routine to help your child be organised and get to school on time.
- Have other transport options ready in case something unexpected happens. Bus services are available for both metropolitan and regional.
- Set regular bedtime and evening routines. This helps your child get enough sleep. They will be well rested and ready to learn the next day.
- Help your child set up good homework and study.
- Limit the use of electronic devices, so they get off to sleep easily.
Appointments and holidays
- Where possible, make appointments for your child outside of school hours or during school holidays
- Take family holidays during school holidays
After-school activities
- Encourage extra-curricular activities so they create friendships and pursue their interests
- Set limits on part-time work so they are not over-stretched or tired
Seek support
- Talk to your child's teacher about any concerns and find out how they can support them
- Find out about services available to support their attendance and wellbeing
For more information on how to help your child be engaged in school and learning clink the link below.
Amanda Morton
Program Coordinator - Student Support
It was fantastic to take our music students once again on music camp this year. Despite the ongoing threat of Covid we had more music students than ever attend music camp. Over 120 students descended upon Swan Leigh over the course of two days, Thursday and Friday 4 and 5 August. They worked hard and played hard, quite literally! We had the string orchestra, Guitar ensembles, Choirs, Contemporary rock and rollers and Concert Bands all rehearsing at the same time in various venues around Swan Leigh.
As always a big highlight was the talent show. We had some amazing performances, interesting ones and some on the spot stand up. I want to thank Musikal our parent support group for helping out at camp in organising and volunteering time and support.
Also a big thank you goes to Desi our first aid officer, all of the IMSS staff that helped out over the camp including, Tashana Tweddle, Peter Hind, James Martin, Dom Zurzolo, Bronwynn Sprogowski, Robin Hillier, Deb Jackson Porteous and Michelle Vivian. Thanks to John Neville for stepping in last minute to fill up some staffing requirements.
In events coming up we have our Rock Night on Tuesday 6 September in the KPAC. Tickets will be available via trybooking and the link will be out shortly. Our final big twilight music concert event will be on Tuesday 18 October in the main quad of the school. Again, details will be sent out via Musikal closer to the date.
Many thanks
Marcus Roberts
Music Director
Year 8 and 9 Science
Studying ecosystems in Year 9 means leaving the books behind and getting outside, at least for a quick search of the school gardens to see who lives where. Cooper, David and Emily outdid the rest with their capture of a centipede, which was handled carefully using a petri dish rather than hands before being safely returned to the wild. Our mission was to investigate the leaf litter layer for decomposers and detritivores.
Year 8s learnt a new trick: getting a party balloon to stay ‘stuck’ to the ceiling, after rubbing it on their hair first. This was part of practical work generating static charges and testing the Charge Rule of opposites attracting. Baxter and Nate had the most success, the balloon staying put for several minutes before descending. The all-time record stands at 15 minutes!
Lindesay Pound
Science Teacher
Languages Week is held in the second week of August each year and is designed to raise awareness of the benefits of language, and highlight the linguistic diversity in our community. Around 240 languages and dialects are spoken in Western Australia and ours is one of the most culturally diverse states in Australia. With an increasingly multicultural community and interconnected world, learning a language is becoming an even more essential skill for life. At Kalamunda SHS we celebrate linguistic diversity and believe studying languages is a way to connect to the world and its people.
Western Australia is home to people of many cultures – in fact our state is one of the most culturally diverse places in Australia.
Around 240 languages are spoken in Western Australia. These include the many languages and dialects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the languages of communities who have migrated and settled here over generations, and our most recent migrants and refugees who come from all corners of the globe. These voices, accents and intonations can be heard across our vast state, creating a rich tapestry of stories that make up our community and reflect the spirit of what it means to be Western Australian.
New and emerging communities
New and emerging communities are those which are not yet strongly established in Australia. They tend to be the most recent migrants or refugees, many of whom arrived in the country through humanitarian programs or through family visa streams. Some of the newest communities in WA include people from the following countries:
Country languages spoken
Afghanistan Hazaraghi, Dari, Persian and Pashto Albania Albanian, Italian Burma Burmese, Karen, Chin Haka Democratic Republic of the Congo Swahili, French Eritrea Arabic, Tigrinya Ethiopia Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromo, Somali Iraq Arabic, Kurdish Libya Middle Eastern Semitic languages Republic of Congo French, Lingala Somalia Somali, Arabic South Sudan Sudanese Arabic, Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Acholi and many others Syria Arabic, Hebrew.
Primary School Visits
It was lovely to visit Kalamunda Primary School, Maida Vale Primary School, High Wycombe Primary School and Gooseberry Hill Primary School. I was fortunate to be accompanied by Ibu Miska. We presented to various year groups about the 'point' and the academic and personal benefits of learning languages. Students also gained an insight, the highlight was Ibu Miska’s amazing dance performance and teaching the Kembang Kipas Dance from Jakarta.
What else happened during Languages Week?
- Fare una bella figura - Making a good impression
- Italian Inventions
- Italian lemon and ricotta cake (Grazie Signor Pennington!)
- Banana language or Minionese
- Meme Competition
- Indonesian lunch time activities
- Japanese traditional dance
- Pavarotti music session
- Meditation in Italian
- A visit from our former Year 12 Italian student Jorjia Watson
Maria Pennington
Teacher in Charge of Languages
Certificate II in Tourism Excursion
As part of the Year 11 and 12 Tourism course, students have to visit a tourist attraction. On Tuesday 2 August, 17 Tourism students and teachers Natasha Hawkes and Tori Maguire had the opportunity to tour Optus Stadium.
The weather on the day was wet, windy and wild, but held off just long enough for us to walk part way across Matagarap Bridge and enjoy the views. The bridge itself holds a lot of cultural significance and is a tourist destination in its own right. Matagarap is Noongar for 'place where the river is only leg deep, allowing it to be crossed' and the design is of a rainbow serpent. Managed by Main Roads, it also hosts a bridge climb and a zip line. Maybe next year!
The Optus Stadium Tour was incredibly interesting. It was exciting for both students and teachers to get a closer look at the areas people are unable to visit on a game day! We toured through the media boxes, the corporate box areas, Eagles and Dockers locker rooms and team areas, as well as sitting on the interchange bench at grass level. We learned a lot about the processes and procedures happening ‘behind the scenes’ on event days!
The students were excellently behaved and asked very intelligent questions. Our tour guide encouraged them all to apply for jobs at the stadium – which is a reflection on the way they presented themselves and the school. We are very proud of our Tourism students!
Tori Maguire
Teacher
Vocational and Educational Training
Work Place Learning for Year 11
7 to 18 November 2022
Please check CONNECT notices for Apprenticeships for 2023 and casual or part time jobs available.
Christmas Casuals are required in retail stores so look out for notices in shop windows over the next few months.
APPLICATIONS FOR 2023 VETDSS COURSES CLOSING SOON!
YEAR 12 Students if you need help or advice applying to TAFE for 2023 come and talk to the friendly VET Team/Career Practitioner in the VET Office.
Tips for Getting a Traineeship or Apprenticeship
These tips are from Rob Palmer, Careers Counsellor at South Metro TAFE
- Ask for a work placement while still at school. Schools will cover your insurance whilst on WPL. When you leave school, you can get insurance cover from Volunteering WA but the range of volunteering work is limited.
- Demonstrate what a great employee you are.
- Get information from a Jobs and Skills Centre on what subsidies employers can get.
- Tell the potential employer what subsidies they can get and ask if they will take you on.
- If they won’t take you on, ask if they know anyone else who may be in a position to help you/take you on.
SEEK.COM.AU has many apprenticeships available. Put Kalamunda into the search bar and you will find local business and apprenticeships close to home.
Cabinet Making Appentice – Skill Hire WA | Sheetmetal Fabrication – IRP |
Electrical and Boilermaker Apprenticeships - Hitachi | Apprentice Carpenter – Toorak Builders |
Electrotechnology Electrican – Liebherr Australia | Light Vehicle Mechanic – Kalamunda Toyota |
Carpentry Apprenticeship – Directions Workforce Solutions | Plumbing Apprenticeship – Skill Hire WA |
Fitters, Turners & Machinists – WAICE | Automotive Glass Repairer Apprenticeship |
Apprentice Baker – WOOLWORTHS Kalamunda | Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical – Damien Cole Group in South Guildford |
Landscape Construction – Thornlie | RETAIL POSITIONS AT DFO for Casuals |
Meredith Rubery
VET Coordinator
This semester we have exciting opportunities for our Year 9 students who will be exploring the word of career. The Year 9 Career Taster Program (CTP) provides an exciting opportunity to challenge students' thinking, spark their ‘career curiosity’ and make connections between education and post-school opportunities. Watch this space for upcoming events.
For our Year 11 and Year 12 students a series of workshops have been organised with Jobs&Skills Centre on 5 and 12 August during meeting period to work on their resume and interview skills.
Mrs Moreno Diaz is available for one to one career counselling sessions Monday to Thursday, come to the VET office to arrange your session.
The following career events are provided by In Focus Career News August. Get some dates dates in your calendar.
Career Events
13 to 22 August |
National Science Week |
25 to 27 August |
Perth Skillswest Careers & Employment Expo Find details HERE |
University Events
21 August |
Notre Dame Open Day Find details and view event schedule HERE |
21 August |
WAAPA Open Day Find details HERE |
28 August |
Explore UWA Day Find details and register HERE. |
30 August |
Murdoch Online Application Support session Register HERE. |
31 August |
ECU Year 11 and 12 Engineering Showcase Joondalup Campus Register HERE |
2 September |
UWA Application Help (Online) Find more information and register HERE. |
2 September |
Nursing and Midwifery Careers Expo Joondalup Campus Register HERE. |
3 September |
Murdoch Open Day Find details HERE |
5 to 8 September |
Curtin Open Week |
11 September and 21 November |
Auditions for 2023 Entry to UWA Music Create your future at the UWA Conservatorium of Music and apply now! |
26 to 30 September |
ECU ATAR Revision Program You can register your interest HERE. |
14 September |
2023 John Curtin Scholarship Program closes Find details HERE |
University News
Curtin Academic Excellence Scholarships
Top Excellence Scholarships at Curtin University were opened in July for 2023:
2023 - Business and Law Top Excellence Scholarship (Closing Date: 19 Dec 2022)
2023 - Charles Watson Top Excellence Scholarship (Closing Date: 19 Dec 2022)
2023 - Humanities Top Excellence Scholarship (Closing Date: 19 Dec 2022)
2023 - John de Laeter Top Excellence Scholarship (Closing Date: 19 Dec 2022)
2023 - Women in Engineering Top Excellence Scholarship (Closing Date: 19 Dec 2022)
More Curtin Scholarships
2023 - Business Innovation Scholarship (Closing Date: 18 Nov 2022)
2023 - Curtin Humanitarian Scholarship (Closing Date: 18 Nov 2022)
Study Assist $$$$$$
The Study Assist website gives you an overview of what financial assistance they are eligible for when contemplating further education.
Uni Fees for 2023
All universities in WA charge pretty much the same fees. The UWA Fee Calculator is a good tool for estimating how much your course will cost.
Expect changes:
The new government will be releasing its budget in October. I anticipate that there will be significant changes in the Commonwealth’s contribution to university education. As soon as these changes are announced I am sure UWA will update its Fee Calculator.
Psych degrees attract higher subsidies
The UWA Fee Calculator page gives this information about subsidies for Psych courses:
Units in the following courses are charged at a discounted rate and are not displayed in the Fee Calculator for Commonwealth Supported students.
- Bachelor of Psychology (BP030)
- Bachelor of Psychology and Bachelor of Arts (CB011)
- Bachelor of Psychology and Bachelor of Commerce (CB013)
Physical or Virtual Open Days
Most universities in WA have already had their big open day but some are doing a second one later in the year. Careers with STEM magazine has posted advice on how to get the most out of either physical or virtual open days. You can check out the post HERE.
They have also posted 5 videos on how to get the most from Open Days.
Consider Indonesian Studies
The Australian government’s renewed focus on strengthening ties with Indonesia has rejuvenated the need for workers with Bahasa Indonesian language skills and knowledge of Indonesian culture and business.
Students who have these skills will be in high demand as our relationship with Indonesia grows.
Senior School Events and News
7 to 10 October |
Fogarty Futures Leadership Conference 2022 |
Air Force Work Experience For more information about placement opportunities, visit Defence Work Experience Program You may also consider joining the Air Force Cadets or Air Force Reserves. |
|
Australian Veterans’ Children Assistance Trust AVCAT Scholarships Open for 2022 -Applications close on 31 October. Find details HERE |
|
Nominations close VET Exhibitions and Awards 2022 |
|
Speed Networking for Science Careers for Females Find details and register HERE |
|
31 August |
Pinnacle Scholarships for LGBTI Close For more information go HERE |
August Westpac Young Technologist Scholarships Open You can register your interest in receiving information about the Westpac Young Technologist Scholarship for 2023, HERE |
|
12 to 16 September and 3 to 7 October |
Broadacre Harvest – Training and Jobs Find out more HERE |
Leaving Year 12? These Gap Year ideas may interest you
Whole School Wellbeing Program
The table below outlines the activities to be undertaken in Term 3 of in our continuation of the whole school mental health and wellbeing program for this year.
|
Term 3 FOCUS |
Skills to Develop |
Year 7 |
Resilience |
Focus on building resilience, overcoming challenges and identifying positive support networks. |
Year 8 |
Self Management |
Understanding how managing their impulses can help them handle conflict more effectively and how to build inclusive and respectful relationships. |
Year 9 |
Self Management |
Focus on managing social media use and learning how and when to be an upstander for others on social media. |
Year 10 |
Self Management |
Learning ways to manage stress in themselves and how to support friends experiencing stress. |
Year 11 |
Relationships |
Learning how to nagivate difficult conversations and enhancing positive communication skills |
Year 12 |
Self Awareness |
Long term goal-setting and imagining their best possible self
|
An interesting article below, from the 'ReachOut.com' website, on helping our teens recognise, understand and manage feelings of anger.
What is anger?
Anger is an emotion that we all experience – it’s part of being human. Like all emotions, anger can make you feel different things. You might feel frustrated, annoyed or irritable. Your body might feel tense, your heart might start racing and you might feel a surge of energy from adrenaline in your system.
Anger is a natural reaction when you feel your boundaries, values or actions have been challenged or criticised. It can be caused by: external events, such as heavy traffic, cancelled plans, or someone being rude to you; or internal events, such as your thoughts. For example, you might feel frustrated with yourself if you don’t do as well as you wanted in an exam or sports game.
A certain amount of anger can be a good thing, as it can help to motivate or energise you. For example, if you felt angry about your mark in an exam, your anger might motivate you to study harder next time. But when anger feels constant, overwhelming or out of control, it can become harmful for you and the people around you.
What are the different types of anger?
There are three main ways that anger is expressed.
Assertive anger
This involves expressing your anger about an issue in a healthy, non-threatening way, by calmly and confidently explaining your perspective on it and suggesting how the situation can be avoided in future.
For example, if someone continually borrows your things without asking you first, you could express your feelings assertively by saying: ‘I feel angry when you take my things without my permission because then I can’t find them when I need them. I’m happy for you to borrow things in future if you ask beforehand.’
It’s important to use ‘I’ statements, as they reflect your perspective. ‘You’ statements can sometimes make the other person feel they are being criticised.
Passive–aggressive anger
This involves trying to repress your anger to avoid a confrontation. Your anger will often end up being expressed in ways that may undermine other people. While passive–aggressive anger can make you feel better in the short term, it doesn’t give you the opportunity to fix the cause of the problem.
For example, instead of speaking directly to the person who is borrowing your things without asking, you might decide to hide your things. Since you haven’t spoken directly to the other person, they might not realise they’ve upset you and so may do the same thing again.
Aggressive anger
This involves mixing anger with aggression. You might lash out and feel unable to control your emotions and how you act. Aggressive anger can sometimes lead to hurting other people or yourself.
It’s important to note that while anger and aggression can sometimes feel related, they are separate things. Anger is an emotion that we all feel, but aggressive or violent behaviour is never acceptable. If you feel the urge to act aggressively when you are angry, it’s possible to learn new ways of responding to anger.
If you feel unsafe in the presence of someone who is angry, or you feel like you might hurt someone else, walk away. Call a mental health hotline for help, or 000 if you or someone else is in immediate danger.
Why am I angry?
Understanding why you feel angry and knowing what management strategies to use can help you to process your anger and move forward in a healthy way.
Anger can be a bit like an iceberg: it’s the visible part of a range of emotions that may lie beneath the surface and that contribute to the anger. These can include:
|
|
If you notice you’re starting to feel angry, take a moment to think about what emotion might have triggered your anger. By understanding what has caused you to feel angry, you can address the issue and help to resolve your feelings.
Some questions you might ask yourself could include:
- What happened? Did someone or something upset me?
- What emotions did it make me feel? Do I feel scared, embarrassed, hurt?
- Do I feel that one of my boundaries or values has been crossed? What is it, and why is it important to me?
Once you understand what’s triggered your anger, you can work on processing your emotions and planning how you want to move forward.
How can I manage my anger?
Like all emotions, feelings of anger and frustration aren’t permanent and will pass in time. If you find yourself feeling angry, here are some ways you can calm yourself down:
- Do a breathing exercise. Regulating your breathing can help to slow down your heart rate, making you feel more in control of the situation. Try the 4-7-8 technique: breathe in for four seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds, and breathe out for eight seconds.
- Write down how you feel. This is a way to get all your thoughts out in a private way that won’t hurt anyone. Once you’re calmer, you’ll be able to read back what you’ve written and think about what to do next in a more objective way.
- Do some physical exercise. Getting away from the situation, breathing some fresh air and moving your body can help you to calm down. You could do a gentle exercise, like going for a walk or stretching, or a more intense exercise, such as running.
- Call or text someone you trust. Talking can help you to process how you’re feeling, and it can often be useful to get an outsider’s perspective. Try to give your friend a heads-up by saying, ‘Do you mind if I talk to you about [situation]?’, rather than just venting.
- Press pause. When you feel angry about something, it’s almost impossible to deal with the situation in a productive or helpful way. If you feel yourself losing your cool, just walk away from the situation for a while. You’ll deal with it better when everyone, yourself included, is feeling calmer. Or try counting to 100, it sounds pretty basic but thinking about anything other than what is making you angry for 100 seconds can help you avoid blowing a fuse. It gives you a chance to gather yourself and your thoughts before you do anything else.
For more information on this topic and a heap of resources, you sign up for free to access content on www.ReachOut.com
Aundraêa Stevens
Convenor of the MHWB Committee
From the Community Health Nurse
Kalamunda SHS alumna and 2016 school dux, Allira Payne returned to the school in Week 2 to speak to a Year 11 Human Biology ATAR class. Allira is a Pharmacy Intern at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and is piloting a new sexual health workshop targeted at senior high school students. Allira spoke about the emergency contraceptive pill; how and where it can be accessed by young people when needed; and how the emergency contraceptive pill works in the body. The Year 11 class were welcoming and attentive and everyone, including the school nurse, learned something.
Louise Jonker
Community Health Nurse
Enrolments for students up to 17 years of age are now open for VacSwim swimming lessons during the October school holidays.
Not only is VacSwim a great school holiday activity, it teaches valuable safety skills to help keep your child safe in the water.
There are lessons for everyone, from beginners to advanced swimmers. Students 14 years and over (or who will be turning 14 years in the same calendar year of the course) can enrol in Stage 16 to enable them to achieve their Bronze Medallion.
Places are limited, so get in early. Enrol today at education.wa.edu.au/vacswim