Happy Valley School

Responsibility
 Respect
 Integrity

Did You Know?

Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world and much of the damage occurs during childhood and adolescence.
Someone 1.8m tall would have 38 square metres of skin, which is about half the size of a volleyball court!
The colour of your skin is caused by a substance called melanin. It is made by special cells called melanocytes (-cyte means cell), which are found in the epidermis. The melanocytes of people with darker skin simply make more melanin. Melanin helps to protect the skin.
When your skin is exposed to sunlight your body makes more melanin. This can make your skin look darker and give you a tan. A tan shows that the sun has affected your skin. Most Australians cannot make enough melanin to protect their skins against the strong sun.
Sunlight is made up of different types of radiation. Infra-red radiation makes us feel warm. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation cannot be seen or felt. It does not change when the temperature changes. Too much UV can cause sunburn, skin cancer or eye damage.
We must also be careful of reflected UV. Surfaces such as sand, water, snow and concrete reflect UV. The rays bounce off these surfaces and can increase the amount of UV that reaches your skin.
Many people are fooled by clouds - unfortunately the UV radiation can still get through!

In Australia we try to Slip, Slop, Slap.

  Slip on a shirt
  Slop on sunscreen
  Slap on a hat
For more information on Sun Smart Schools click below:-

Above: Happy Valley students on a science field excursion. Children wear approved hats all year round.

 

 

 
Responsibility
 Respect
 Integrity



Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world!

With this in mind, the school up-dated its Sun-Smart Policy during Term 4 1999. As a result, a revised policy was discussed at great length by students, teachers and parents. From this, emerged a new policy, approved by Australian Cancer Society, and adopted by School Council in the first few weeks of 2000.

To promote the new policy and also to raise awareness of Sun Smart Schools, a Sun Smart Week was observed from 21st to 25th February 2000.


Rosemary Rayner from the Anti Cancer Foundation addresses a whole school assembly during Sun Smart Week 2000

Events of Sun Smart Week

  • A Skin Cancer Research Foundation representative, George Kavanagh addressed classes on 21st February.

  • Joanne Rayner from The Anti-Cancer Foundation addressed the school and presented a Sun-Smart School sign.

  • On Wednesday 23rd February the school celebrated a "Free Choice Sun Safe Hat Day." The children were able to wear any hat, providing it met the Sun Safe guidelines.

  • Parents were urged to set a good example and wear Sun Safe hats to school.

  • Special lessons were given by class-room teachers during the week to further promote Sun Smart behaviour.

The photograph at left shows student, Christopher Dunn holding a Student Awareness Portfolio, and George Kavanagh from the Anti Cancer Foundation.  George gave two interesting and informative presentations to students on 21st February to mark the beginning of Sun Smart Week.

"On Monday a man called George came to our School and talked about things like melanomas and other sorts of skin cancer. One of the sad points of his talk was about his friend, Brian who died because he was too scared to go to the doctor and get his skin checked."
                  Stefan Potts (Year 7)

Right: Nazanin and Jacinta from Mrs Brettig's Year 2 class model their Sun Smart hats during Wednesday's Free Choice Sun Safe Hat Day.

Below: The two types of approved school hat which must be worn all year.

The broad brimmed hat
The legionnaire-styled school hat

Most children prefer the legionnaire version.

Pictured above: Kookaburra Council leaders Stefan Potts (Treasurer), Samantha Williams (Secretary) and Harriet Whiley (President) hold up the Sun Smart School sign presented by Joanne Rayner from the Anti Cancer Foundation.

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