Keeping Our Students SunSmart, Safe and Hydrated

SunSmart practices and good hydration for our students’ health, wellbeing and comfort — especially as we spend time outdoors for play, sport and learning is important to us at Albany SHS.

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, and most of this risk comes from sun exposure during childhood and adolescence. Messages being reinforced at school plays a vital role in helping students develop lifelong sun protection habits to reduce their risk of sun-related harm. 

Why Sun Protection Matters

When the Ultraviolet (UV) Index reaches 3 or above, UV radiation can damage the skin, even on cooler or cloudy days. It’s recommended that students use a combination of protective measures whenever UV levels are high — including hats, sunscreen, protective clothing and shade to minimise UV exposure. 

• Wear a broad-brimmed hat: Wide brim, bucket or legionnaire styles protect the face, neck and ears more effectively than caps alone. 
• Apply SPF50+ sunscreen: Sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapplied throughout the day if students are outside for extended periods. 
• Use shade where possible: Shade helps reduce direct UV exposure and keeps students cooler when outdoors. 

Our school encourages these behaviours as part of a whole-school SunSmart approach, and we appreciate your support in reinforcing them at home.

Stay Hydrated and Beat the Heat

Good hydration helps children maintain energy, focus and physical comfort, especially during warmer weather and greater activity. We strongly encourage families to:

• Send a refillable water bottle with your child to school each day. Drinking water regularly helps prevent dehydration and supports overall wellbeing during outdoor activities. 
• Encourage hat wear and regular sunscreen use, which not only protects skin but also helps students stay cool and comfortable while learning and playing outdoors. 

Young people can become dehydrated or overheated more quickly than adults, particularly when active outdoors. Regular water intake and shaded breaks help reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion. (Health Victoria).

How Parents Can Help

You can support your child and our community by:

• Ensuring they have a SunSmart hat each day.
• Applying sunscreen before school or providing sunscreen labelled with your child’s name for reapplication if needed.
• Sending a clearly labelled water bottle for use throughout the day.
• Discussing with your child the importance of sun protection and drinking water regularly.

By building these healthy habits together, we help protect our students’ wellbeing now and into the future.

Let’s work as a community to keep our students safe, comfortable and ready to learn — rain or shine!