Year 11 Reflection Day

The Year 11 Reflection Day was held during Week 5 of this Term.

The day for Male students was facilitated by Matt Wilesmith from the YourChoicez organization.  Matt Wilesmith is a passionate, gifted and sought after youth speaker. Matt comes with an extensive background as a helper of young people: PDHPE Teacher within Christian education, Senior School Chaplain and Youth Minister. Matt is also the current State Director of Youth Alive NSW. In both a personal and a professional capacity, Matt demonstrates an incredible ability to engage and influence young people. Matt currently holds the role within Your Choicez as the boys’ school specialist.

Matt was able to raise and discuss difficult and yet relevant topics that face all young men of their age, particularly as social media and YouTube gives access to much content that was once fairly inaccessible.

The sessions covered common misconceptions or perceptions of manhood, what values young men aspire to, what society perceives as important morals for men, pornography and its negative effects on the brain, socialisation and relationships, and finally the important issue of consent. Feedback from the small groups indicated a high degree of involvement in discussing the issues in an open an honest manner with significant male role models on staff. A big thank you to those teachers who committed their day to the Year 11 boys!

The day for female students was facilitated by Beck Neale. Beck is a presenter, copywriter and content specialist for Your Choicez. In addition to having graduated with a Bachelor of Communication from The University of Newcastle, she comes with ample experience as a gifted communicator, Youth Minister, and speaker. Beck's commitment to the wellbeing of young people is second to none. Her ability to build strong relationships with teenagers stems from a capacity to mentor and disciple effectively and communicate clearly on both small and wide scales.

Beck guided students through topics such as body image, the impact of social media, healthy relationships, consent and asked students to consider their role models for womanhood. It was lovely to hear so many young women acknowledging their mothers, grandmothers and coaches as women they see as strong, resilient and people they aspire to be. Beck mentioned at the end of the day that she was so incredibly impressed with the conversations that were happening in small groups and that not only were the students so open but the teachers and students seemed to have a lovely rapport which really facilitated open and frank conversations. Beck commented that this was in fact the best group of students and staff that she had worked with.

Mr Timo Gobius
Leader of School Evangelisation

Ms Heidi Flanagan
Leader of Wellbeing Year 11