Year 10

Week 6 Focus: Keeping Ourselves in Check

This week, the focus for Yr 10 was on wellbeing and keeping things in check, particularly when it comes to managing headspace during Remote Learning. During Tutor Time, students completed the Remote Learning/Wellbeing survey. From the results compiled, this will give Ms Martin, Tutors and me the opportunity to reach out to any Yr 10 student who may need further support and guidance as they navigate Remote Learning.

In our Yr 10 Year Assembly I spoke about US Olympian, Simone Biles, one of the world’s most decorated gymnasts, who has a combined total of 32 Olympic and World Championship medals. At the Tokyo Olympics, in the women’s team gymnastics heats, Biles balked on her first attempt on the vault and did 1.5 rotations instead of 2.5 rotations, which was the lowest score in her team. Biles felt like a failure and felt not only did she let her team down, she let the US and her global adoring global fans down too. These thoughts overshadowed her outlook at the Olympics and Biles made the incredibly difficult decision to withdraw from the team final due to her unfortunate struggle with mental health.

Biles told her team that if she was to compete, she would jeapordise the team from winning gold. Biles told American broadcaster NBC that ‘“Physically I feel good, I’m in shape,”… “Emotionally … that kind of varies on the time and the moment. Coming here to the Olympics and being the head star of the Olympics is not an easy feat so we’re just trying to take it one day at a time and we’ll see.” Biles teammates could have been upset, angry, and frustrated, however, they supported Biles and were very respectful of her tough decision to pull out of the team so she could focus on her wellbeing. Despite Biles not competing in the team final, she still supported her teammates by cheering for them on the sideline and did her best to support the team, regardless of how she was feeling. This reflected Biles courage, resilience, and leadership. 

Following her breakdown and medical assessment, Biles went on to compete in the High Beam and despite not feeling herself, she managed to overcome adversity and win a bronze medal with a score of 14.000, finishing behind China’s Guan Chenchen (14.633) and Tang Xijing (14.233).

After Biles finished the event she told reporters that “At the end of the day, we’re not just entertainment, we’re humans. And there are things behind the scenes that we’re also trying to juggle, as well as sport. “My mental and physical health is better than any medal.”

The below cartoon by renowned American cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz, went viral during the Tokyo Olympics after Biles pulled out of her team event. Alcaraz told the US Today show that “The message in the cartoon is that Simone, like all people, is in a category all of her own. Her mental health, and everyone’s mental health, should be a top concern, over anything else in life,” he said. “Only she completely understands what she’s going through, and we should applaud her for recognising whatever problem she is having, and taking actions to address it.”

My message to all of Yr 10 is that even the best fall down sometimes, and it’s so important to keep ourselves in check, particularly when it comes to our own wellbeing during Remote Learning. I reminded Yr 10 who their key connections are if they do need any remote wellbeing support such as family, friends, the school counselor, Tutors, and Year Advisors. If you do have any concerns about your child, please get in touch. There is always support available.  

Mr Nicholas Walker
Acting Yr 10 Advisor
nwalker@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9909 3133