Comments from the Principal 22.10.21

Kia ora e te whanau

In my last newsletter I discussed the many challenges our young men face in our schools and in society and received some really encouraging feedback from parents and teachers in recognising these challenges and wanting to know more about what can be done to limit some of these terrible statistics. This week I want to turn my attention towards the females in our school as I reflect on some of the trials they face on a daily basis at school and in the community.

The general statistics show a strong correlation between behavioural consequences and self esteem:

• 44% of female high school students are currently trying to lose weight compared to 15% of male high school students.
• Over 70% of girls aged 15 to 17 avoid normal daily activities, such as attending school, when they feel bad about their looks.
• 75% of girls with low self-esteem reported engaging in negative activities like cutting, bullying, smoking, drinking, or disordered eating. This compares to 25% of girls with high self-esteem.
• About 20% of teens will experience depression before they reach adulthood.
• Teen girls that have a negative view of themselves are 4 times more likely to take part in activities with boys that they've ended up regretting later.
• 7 in 10 girls believe that they are not good enough or don’t measure up in some way, including their looks, performance in school and relationships with friends and family members.
• A girl’s self-esteem is more strongly related to how she views her own body shape and body weight, than how much she actually weighs.

It is not always easy as parents and educators to communicate easily with teenage girls around their inner thoughts but what young women most want is...
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• For their parents to communicate better with them. This includes frequent and more open conversations.

Low self esteem is a thinking disorder in which an individual views him/herself as inadequate, unlovable, and/or incompetent. Once formed, this negative view permeates every thought, producing faulty assumptions and ongoing self-defeating behaviour. Body image is a component of self-esteem and is about how you think and feel about your body and looks.

Other ways to support your daughters, nieces, sisters and granddaughters are to be involved in their social media and internet usage, turn TV off at dinner time, teach them to be critical of images e.g. photo shop and air brushing, show them how “ideal” body shapes have changed over time, avoid weight related comments about yourself and others, watch for any strange, excessive or limited eating patterns, have regular family meals and Dads, you need to get involved too.

We look toward a short and busy term - many calendared events are currently being looked at carefully to see what can and cannot go ahead in Level 2 - which is not looking likely to change before the end of the school year. We will keep you posted on any upcoming changes, particularly around Prizegiving and other end of year celebrations as soon as we can.

Have a lovely Labour weekend.

Charity fulfils the Law


Tara Quinney
Principal