The busy term continues with excursions, events and activities. Over the past two weeks, we have had representative teams out for the Southside Zone Regional Football Championships and ACT Mountain Bike Championships. Year 8 students have had work displayed from their Science classes in the Overture Foyer, showcasing some extremely creative projects. Our students in Years 10, 11 and 12 were able to attend their first face-to-face Careers Expo event. It was great that the event could go ahead for students this year and that they had the opportunity to speak to a number of professionals spanning across many career options.
You may recall that the High School was closed for Moderation Day on Thursday August 18. This is a day that teachers across Canberra get together in the core teaching areas (Mathematics, English, Art etc.) and ensure that there is alignment between schools in assessment tasks, grading and the quality of feedback given to students. The Board of Senior Secondary Studies collects data from Moderation Day to improve assessments and the quality of teaching across schools in Canberra. We are particularly thankful to the number of staff at Orana Steiner School who coordinated and lead this process on behalf of all ACT schools in five faculty areas.
This week, Year 10 students had the opportunity to be involved in the Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y) Program at Orana. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the program was unable to be hosted at Canberra Hospital, however, staff were able to support the program at the School. The P.A.R.T.Y Program is an in-hospital injury awareness and prevention program aimed at providing teenagers with information about trauma that will enable them to recognise potential injury-producing situations, make prevention-oriented choices, and adopt behaviours that minimise unnecessary risk.
The ACT Trauma Service has received funding to implement a modified P.A.R.T.Y. Outreach
Program to service Year 10 High School students across the ACT, in addition to the current in-hospital P.A.R.T.Y Program. The program is designed to engage young people by meeting health professionals; nurses, therapists, and people who have experienced trauma and survived, often with significant disabilities. Holding the program within the School enables health professionals to reach more students, enhances the experiences of students, and leaves a significant and lasting impression of the consequences of trauma and risk-taking behaviours. Orana has been very fortunate to have been involved in this program for many years.
