Acting Dean of Students | Mr Damien Cuddihy

Why is our physical health so much more important to us than our psychological health? It is a really interesting question raised by psychologist, Guy Winch. Winch’s discussion centres on the need to be your own best friend by taking a proactive approach to emotional hygiene. One aspect of his presentation that I believe reflects what many of our young men fall into the trap of, is that of “rumination”. Rumination is the costly habit of replaying a negative event over and over in your mind. It’s a debilitating habit that we can all feel the strong urge to do and find it very hard to break. Winch puts forward the ‘two-minute distraction method’ as an effective way break the need to ruminate. Listening to a song, playing with the dog, taking the washing off the line (wishful) are a few of the many immediate minor deviations which may assist in breaking the cycle. It is about being persistent until it becomes a natural reaction. Research shows that positive changes in emotional wellbeing can be measured within a week of employing this strategy. The need to protect your own self esteem by avoiding rumination is one of a number of interventions that assist in becoming more compassionate to ourselves. The presentation is well worth listening to here.

With the end of semester exams approaching, I would also like to reinforce the need to combat exam stress by maintaining a balanced approach in the coming weeks. Sleep, exercise and nutrition always need to be front and centre when laying a solid foundation to achieve to the best of your ability during exams. When the boys consistently start taking short cuts in one of these areas, it can potentially undermine their ability to perform cognitively. 

It is important that the boys maintain a high standard of behaviour across the many facets of school life over the next few weeks as the term draws to a close. Our students are generally very reliable with managing their behaviour, but they will make mistakes at times. One of our key roles at the school is to support parents in teaching our young men when they cross the line by behaving in a manner that is inappropriate. When this occurs, the outcomes are always enhanced when staff and parents work in partnership. As always, I encourage parents to keep communicating with classroom teachers and House Deans to enhance these outcomes.

A final reminder about the research work targeting the “online lives” of our boys being conducted by Griffith University at the moment. For your sons to be included in the survey, you will need to “accept” an invitation that is currently on the parent portal. It involves a short ten minute survey to be filled out by your son. I will email the link to students involved in the next week. The College is very interested in analysing the data from this survey to shape future formation programs for your sons, so I strongly encourage involvement in this research program.