Sleep
Students today have extremely busy schedules, with ever increasing responsibilities at school and at home.
Many kids, especially adolescents, are going to bed later and later and are at risk of sleep deprivation. This affects three areas of a child’s development: psychological, physiological and psychosocial. All three are essential to a child's growth, learning ability and overall wellbeing. Sleep is vital to a child’s overall development and is as important as diet and exercise.
Sleep also strengthens a child’s immune systems and supports their ability to function properly on a daily basis. Children who do not get enough sleep show increased levels of aggressive behaviour, are less attentive and are much less active. Trying to catch up on sleep on weekends is not the answer and can still lead to severe sleep deprivation.
In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn about the importance of sleep and how sleep deprivation can have adverse effects on a child’s health and wellbeing.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV. If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact your child’s Head of House, Year 9 Director / Head of Community or Wellbeing Support Service for further information or seek medical or professional help.
"Teenagers are the most sleep deprived segment of the population. This is a very under recognised problem and is having a profound impact on the healthy development of young people."
- Dr Michael Carr-Gregg.
Exclusion as a form of bulling in secondary-school settings
Exclusion is a subtle but powerful form of bullying commonly seen in secondary schools.
It involves deliberately isolating or ignoring a student, often by peers, which can severely impact the victim’s emotional well-being and sense of belonging. Unlike overt bullying, exclusion might not involve direct confrontation but can be just as damaging. Students who are excluded may experience feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and lowered self-esteem, which can affect their academic performance and social development. This silent treatment can be especially hurtful during adolescence, a time when peer acceptance is crucial.
Parents often struggle to recognise exclusion as bullying because it can be less visible than physical or verbal abuse. However, it’s important to understand that exclusion disrupts the social fabric of the school environment and contributes to a hostile atmosphere for the affected student. Schools and parents need to work together to identify and address these behaviours early.
In Australia, parents seeking guidance on how to handle exclusion and other forms of bullying can turn to services like Bullying No Way, a government-supported website providing resources, advice, and support strategies for families. This service helps parents understand bullying dynamics and offers practical steps to support their children and collaborate with schools to create safer environments.
The Wellbeing Support Service.