CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS
Students from St Margaret Mary’s have celebrated the importance of staying connected with their friends and classmates to mark RUOK? Day.
RUOK? is a national charity dedicated to promoting meaningful conversations and supporting positive mental health.
Year 9 junior leaders Nisha Hamann, Tahlia Brice and Eadie Baxter kicked off the day with a special RUOK? Day homeroom and helped arrange lunchtime activities that included having some fun while connecting with their peers.
“We’re trying to promote it and make sure the girls know what RUOK? Day means,” Nisha said.
“As junior leaders we’ve been at the school for three years now, and we’re trying to show what it means to everyone and educate them on what RUOK? Day is.”
The students also shared yellow ribbons to wear in their hair, and teachers and staff donned yellow T-shirts to mark the occasion.
The junior leaders said they were using their new-found knowledge of RUOK? to teach younger students the importance of the movement.
“As Year 9s we have little buddies in Year 7, and on Wednesday mornings we have pastoral care time,” Tahlia said.
“We talked about how to ask someone if they’re OK, and how to check up on people.
“It’s not easy to talk about.”
The students said learning about RUOK? Day now could help them to connect and seek help if they are struggling moving forward into their high school careers.
“For Year 12s, it is important because of all the exams and stress. As junior leaders we’re helping share that message to the junior side, and then also to give that message to them as well,” Nisha said.
“We’re making a video about RUOK? Day at St Margaret Mary’s as digital students, Tahlia and I, so we’re trying to spread that message even to the seniors because it’s important to them.
“We’ll be able to think back and remember that it helped a lot of people when we keep doing it through our senior schooling.”
The students also highlighted the importance of having access to supportive adults who could assist during tough times, including the college’s counsellor Deb Jeffrey.
“By promoting it now, if you have even more trouble you know who to speak to,” Eadie said.
“We have Deb and our pastoral care teachers, and even our principal. These are all people you can go and talk to if you have struggles at home, in school or anywhere else.”
“Deb is the best person to talk to, she understands you,” Nisha added.
“Sometimes it’s a bit hard to talk to your parents because they don’t understand, whereas Deb is a person you can go to and talk to when you don’t feel comfortable talking to your parents, and she can give you options.”
“There’s lots of supportive teachers around,” Eadie said.
Coffee Dominion visited the school to supply coffee for the St Margaret Mary’s teachers and staff, aiming to make sure they are OK too.