Upcoming P&F Meeting

Our next P&F Meeting will be held on Wednesday April 2nd at 6.30pm in Keswick House. The 2025 P&F executive team have been doing an outstanding job supporting our College during term one, and I’m looking forward to heading along to the meeting to celebrate this excellent start to the year.

The meeting will also provide an opportunity for me to discuss the ideas and thoughts around our new Strategic Plan which is currently being developed. The plan won’t be finalised until the end of Term 2, but this will be another great chance for feedback and perspectives to be considered and discussed as we look to set up the next five years of our College.

Lions Youth of the Year

Year 11 student Chloe Butler continues to impress in the Lions Youth of the Year program.  It was great to be able to head out to Rosewood again last weekend to see Chloe in action, with her public speaking and ability to think and respond to challenging, unscripted questions as she once again impressed the judges. Chloe has now progressed to the District Final at Runcorn on Saturday night and I have no doubt that she has our community’s full support.

I wanted to finish this week’s newsletter with some information for students and parents on vaping.  This is a growing concern that requires open discussion at home, so that students can fully understand the serious risks involved.  It’s also a timely reminder that vaping is considered a serious offence under The_WestMAC_Way because it involves possessing a dangerous and banned item. 

What are some reasons a young person might want to vape?

Teenage brains are made to test, explore and challenge so that they can develop into autonomous adults. It’s a healthy part of human development. So here are some common reasons/myths that may lead a young person to try vaping:

• Curiosity – what is it like to vape or smoke?
• Peers – all my friends are doing it!
• Role models – family members, Tik Tok personalities, celebrities, advertising.
• Anxiety – it calms my nerves.
• Self-beliefs – I want acceptance and to be included or to be looked up to – vaping is cool!
• Perceptions about the world and others – I’m making decisions for myself and taking control of my life. Adults smoke and drink.
• Thrill-seeking – Bending the rules is okay if I don’t get caught. The chemicals make me feel cool.

What can I do as a parent to respond to some of these thoughts?

• Be informed 
• Know about vapes and the risks
• Model healthy behaviours
• Teach refusal strategies
• Talk often
• Show the laws and legal implications of procuring vapes

Where else can I get support for my teen?

• Positive Choices All about vaping.
• Reach Out. Strategies for communicating effectively with my teenager.
• Queensland Health: There’s nothing sweet about vaping!
  
  

Andrew Peach
Principal