Head of Middle School

What do you do when you learn that approximately one billion people worldwide, essentially one out of every nine people do not have access to clean water?

We often have first-hand knowledge of the importance of water when it comes to drinking, hydration and the sustaining of life. We know that without drinking water the human body is seriously compromised in a matter of days. However, when we add to this the role of water in hygiene; the washing of food, the body and in sanitation, it is overwhelming to contemplate the massive problem inadequate access to water is. When we think of that ratio, one in nine, that represents 54 Middle School students, or three students in every classroom. It is a tiny illustration on how big the inequity is.

This was one of the pieces of information the Year 7 boys discovered in their current iLearn unit on water. As they look at the science of water, that is water systems and water chemistry, they also explore the concepts of access and equity to this most fundamental of human needs. The imbalance of this access is discomfiting. The three photos below show how the Year 7 boys responded to their learning. They completed a Walk for Water with to raise money for Water Aid Australia. Water Aid Australia provides clean water solutions, such as wells or a tap stands in village centres, in communities across the world where access to clean water is compromised. Boys also used the Walk for Water in their Mathematics unit investigating linear functions.

We have not finished counting the donations promised, sponsoring each student for each lap he completed, but we are currently looking at over $2,000. This is huge. Thank you for your support and motivation of your son in this endeavour.

This week, Week 6, we put a spotlight on wellbeing; the importance of a balanced life and of thinking about others via R U OK? Week. There is plenty of advice on how to monitor and improve wellbeing, the trick is incorporate some of this advice into habits so that wellbeing or mindfulness of ourselves and others becomes a part of who we are.

Lots of advice to digest but for just one, the restorative, invigorating effect that nature can have on us is a big one. Getting amongst the waves, or the bush or moving through some wide-open spaces experiencing the wind, the sun, the atmosphere, the sounds and forces of nature is wonderful for resetting the equilibrium.

A great way to embrace the arrival of Spring this week would be to make a point of experiencing nature and contemplating its effect on our wellbeing. Talk to your son this week about how he feels his life balance is and whether an outdoor session, just for the joy of being in nature, can especially be added to the week.