Dear families, the last 8 weeks have flown by with a variety of events, tasks and achievements taking place at the College. From NAPLAN to Open Evenings and everything in between, students have been extremely busy with engaging learning opportunities.

Earlier this week, Year 9 were fortunate enough to listen to a presentation from the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia. The Foundation aims to raise awareness around periods, associated pain and Endometriosis, and how we can all – males and females – better support the women in our lives who might be experiencing severe symptoms.

The PPEP Talk® was a fun, medically accurate and age-appropriate information session incorporating the modern neuroscience of pain, of benefit to all students, particularly the 1 in 4 girls and people assigned female at birth with severe period pain.

Approximately half of the girls and people assigned female at birth will develop endometriosis during their teens and twenties. The Program, lasting one hour, was delivered by fully trained educators and incorporated animation, video and interactive components. It included specifically developed resources for use during the session and resources for girls with pain to take home and discuss with their parents. The 60-minute session was followed by an opportunity for individual students, or teachers, with specific or personal pain concerns to discuss these with the program educator individually. In this way, PPEP Talk® provided early intervention and supports girls, families, teachers, and schools at a time when pain is more easily managed, and the life effects of pain and missed school can be most efficiently minimised.

The PPEP Talk® is an Australian program presented across Government, Catholic and Independent schools. The Periods, Pain and Endometriosis (PPEP Talk®) Program is an initiative of the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia (PPFA), funded by the Federal Government Department of Health with support from State and Territory Governments.

Any families wanting further information can follow the link provided below to the Pelvic Pain Foundation’s website;

• Home - Pelvic Pain Foundation

Special mention to the following Year 9 students for their impressive appearance at the recent STEM challenge at Fort Scratchley;

1. Harry Fitz-Gibbon
2. Oliver Hemsworth
3. Felix Myles
4. Oscar Tyler

Students were required to build and test a wind turbine against a fan. The team from SCCC were up against students from other schools including Newcastle Grammar, Merewether High School and Trinity Catholic College. Our boys finished first and will now wait to see what lies ahead – shout out to the team’s super coach Mr. Michael Quinn for guiding and transporting students to and from Newcastle.

As we approach the final couple of weeks of Term 1, please be aware of the following important dates;

• Wednesday 2^nd April – Boys Bill Turner (Round 1)
• Wednesday 2^nd April – Northern Rugby League Trials
• Friday 4^th April – Girls Bill Turner (Round 1)
• Wednesday 9^th April – Dio Netball Trials
• Thursday 10^th April – U16’s Girls Rugby League Gala Day
• Thursday 10^th April – PST Conferences at SCCC
• Friday 11^th April – Battle of the Bands at SCCC (last day of Term 1)

Finally, on behalf of the College and myself, a very big thank you to all families who continually support the school’s high expectations regarding both uniform and overall behaviour. It is always a positive feeling when contacting families to know that what we are trying to achieve as a faith community is being supported by the people who know our students the best.

A final thought on the importance of family support in education;

“At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents.”

Families, as always, should you wish to discuss an issue concerning your child please do not hesitate to call The Office on 40147300 or email me directly - mitch.allan@mn.catholic.edu.au

Warm Regards,

Mitch Allan – Leader of Wellbeing and Engagement Year 9