Year 8

Book Week

Each year, across Australia, the Children’s Book Council of Australia brings children and books together celebrating Book Week. Throughout the year, the CBCA works in partnership with authors, illustrators, publishers, booksellers and other organisations in the children’s book world to bring words, images and stories into the hearts and minds of children and adults, with the vision of creating a community that celebrates quality Australian literature for young people, promoting and advocating for the sharing of quality literature for young people across Australia.

The theme for 2021 is Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds.  

Shortlist Titles and Authors – https://cbca.org.au/shortlist-2021

Winners 2021 – https://cbca.org.au/winners-2021

What a wonderful opportunity for our students to engage in some additional reading…

SCHOOL TV – Physical Activity & Exercise

“Research shows, regular physical activity and exercise leads to changes in the brain. It improves cognitive function, elevates mood, improves learning and reduces ‘stress chemicals’ like cortisol.”

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg.

Physical activity and exercise is not only vital to a child’s overall development but it has so many other benefits. With children spending more time on computers being sedentary, it is even more important to get kids moving more. As well as maintaining a healthy weight, it also improves concentration by helping to establish connections between different parts of the brain. It helps kids develop fundamental movement skills impacting positively on their confidence, self-esteem and ability to develop social skills. On an emotional level, it reduces stress and anxiety while improving posture and sleep. Physical activity and exercise is good for your child’s health, now and in the future. Parents should encourage their kids to move or play sport at every opportunity – in and out of school.

https://redlands.nsw.schooltv.me/newsletter/physical-activity-exercise

QUIZ – How much do you know about physical activity and exercise?

https://redlands.nsw.schooltv.me/node/1831/take?ne=1832

Importance of Exercise and Mental Health for our Students

The link between exercise and mental health is complicated. Inactivity can be both a cause and a consequence of mental illness, for example. And while we don’t know exactly why or how exercise boosts mood, here are some possible explanations:

  • Regular exercise can help you sleep better. And good sleep helps you regulate your moods.
  • Exercise can improve your sense of control, coping ability and self-esteem. People who exercise regularly often report how good achieving a goal makes them feel. 
  • Exercise can distract you from negative thoughts and provide opportunities to try new experiences.
  • It offers an opportunity to socialise and get social support if you exercise with others – even with COVID restrictions, students can still be physically active with others (please check LGAs)
  • The levels of chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, stress hormones and endorphins, change when you exercise. 
  • Exercise increases your energy levels. 
  • Physical activity can be an outlet for your frustrations. 
  • Exercise can reduce skeletal muscle tension, which helps you feel more relaxed. 

World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends: Children and adolescents aged 5-17 years

  • should do at least an average of 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous intensity, mostly aerobic, physical activity, across the week.
  • should incorporate vigorous-intensity aerobic activities, as well as those that strengthen muscle and bone, at least 3 days a week.
  • should limit the amount of time spent being sedentary, particularly the amount of recreational screen time.

Benefits and risks of physical activity and sedentary behavior 

Regular physical activity, such as walking, cycling, wheeling, doing sports or active recreation, provides significant benefits for health. Some physical activity is better than doing none. By becoming more active throughout the day in relatively simple ways, people can easily achieve the recommended activity levels. 

In children and adolescents, physical activity improves:

  • physical fitness (cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness)
  • cardiometabolic health (blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, glucose, and insulin resistance)
  • bone health
  • cognitive outcomes (academic performance, executive function)
  • mental health (reduced symptoms of depression)
  • reduced adiposity

Resource:

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/exercise-and-mental-health

Ms Lisa Vale
Yr 8 Advisor
9968 9837
lvale@redlands.nsw.edu.au