https://origin.kidsnews.com.au/space/first-astronaut-to-wear-australian-flag-reveals-secret-to-her-success/news-story/30716b83ea9e8c93c7bce1a92be9d629KidsNewsen2026-08-10T19:00:00+10:00How to become an Oz astronautthe first ever Australian flagged blue astronaut suit,high school,the newly opened Australian Space Agency,career,Two masters degrees,The training,those jackets,Australian flag,the day,the proud wearer,a pilot,a foreign language,teenagers,a stint,medical skills,space missions,Sophie Adenot,The two previous Australians,an aerobatic pilot,Picture,the State Emergency Service,her dream job,just one,The Australian,the Scouts,an eye,an astronaut,10,a life,the International Space Station,their adopted country,a medical doctor,South Australian Space Industry Centre,the team.The training,director,night,Paul Scully-Power,What else,the Steyne Hotel,Manly,an Australian-flagged astronaut suit,India,qualified,,a space agency,her training,light,the task,the first Australian-flagged astronaut,her training group,Sydney,Germany,fact,an engineer,even any pathway,only three things,The best leadership training,Campbell Pegg,the badge,the top,The first woman,the day.Ms Bennell-Pegg,the team,100 operation-ready astronauts,my school,a drill,225,000 candidates,her silver astronaut wings,the military,decisions,a few waves,the European Space Agency,a regular teenager,all sorts,the fact,The Aussie,’s Northern Beaches,Army Reserve,a delighted grin,the South Australian Space Industry Centre,the top line,an extraterrestrial* career.But,The future Australian,Rolf Vennenbernd/picture alliance,the Year,expeditionary* skills,Australia,Aussie astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg,the same acceleration,an Oz astronaut,Astronaut,the stars,rollercoaster-style loops,an extraterrestrial* career,operational skills,a career,an add,their top three jobs,the road,the world,the moment,space,a space mission,daughters,school,000 candidates.On,an ideal candidate,the sky,deep pools,the stars.Ms Bennell-Pegg,an incurable medical issue,Borders,Getty Images,Bennell-Pegg,the effort,the plane,the 41-year-old,Brad Griffin,a trailblazing path,Year 8,a ticket,the way,pressure,engineering,her own career path,a scientist,water,a common choice,survival skills,the selection process,Andy Thomas,225,000 candidates.On,Ms Bennell-Pegg,the American flag,their suits,the first Australian flagged astronaut,space engineering and space technology,Airbus*,her “Hoppers” training group,Lyndon Mechielsen/,Clara,her class,part,one day,a cherry,Hazel,her success,extreme temperatures,a remarkably determined teen,the Hoppers,all the badges,Engineers Without Borders*,how to become an astronaut,Katherine Bennell-Pegg,a space program,Jamie Kidston/ANU,READING LEVEL,intense training,European Space Agency,the Army Reserve,a plane,a double degree,my parents,First astronaut,GREEN,an aerobatic pilot*,State Emergency Service,a first career,2019,Airbus,today.French astronaut Sophie Adenot,incredibly,the first day,225,operational astronaut,her spare time,zero gravity,Australian Space Agency,the first,time,Engineers,the teacher,physics and space engineering,the timehttps://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/e023c20fb81a8fb280e358f274962383https://origin.kidsnews.com.au/science-technology/students-ditch-devices-for-pen-and-paper-learning-in-digital-detox/news-story/45a5d0514bd06ce7d5c3bc7296b1b690KidsNewsen2026-08-10T18:30:00+10:00‘Digital detox’ a student success’s Primary School,teachers and education experts,a broader shift,schools, parents and politicians,a push,parents and politicians,years 5, 7 and 9,the decision,our NAPLAN results,physical books,Students,wellbeing,Picture,understanding,homework.The Illawarra Grammar School,Thomas Lisson Ms Hey,Cathy Hey,agreement,devices,primary schools,AI,classrooms.St Joseph,small physical whiteboards,The Centre,plans,excessive screen time,the HSC results,Joseph,re-evaluate screens,lessons,parents, teachers and education experts,Schofields, NSW,distraction.Ms Hey,students,comprehension* and,a definite shift,Twenty years,the state,a laptop or tablet,a belief,teaching methods,screens and devices,smartphones,the impacts,a shift,kids,the shift,The Heads,more success,NAPLAN results,photo,Ms Hey,’s access,school hours,prior years,’s Primary School Principal Cathy Hey,’s impact,a lot,the present time,a digital detox,Australia,quite a big consensus,laptop and screen use,screens and screen addiction,schools’,evidence,Photo,research,more traditional handwritten work.Principal Julie Greenhalgh,the public and private system.Mr Joseph,student literacy results,recent years,school,Education Jason Clare,our kids,critical thinking*,HSC,7 and 9,results,classroom technology,Green level,an improvement,Our academic results,a great shift,CIS,Federal Education Minister,St Joseph,Growing concerns,a sharp reversal,Principal Julie Greenhalgh,Our government,exactly the opposite,the impact,a student success,contemporary* research,A variety,the routine use,pen and paper,screen use,screen saturation report,teachers,digital detox,years 5,class,laptops,the job,a laptop or,the good parts,reading,the national curriculum authority,technology,Prue Car,GREEN,existing,a range,much screen use,social media –,commonsense,the public and private system,time,this consensus,Hey,a good argument,high school,’s NAPLAN results,the classroom,last year,hope,our wellbeing results,signatures,tablet,children,more traditional handwritten work,growing concerns,sight,POLLKids News poll,Jason Clare,Minister,Blaise Joseph,director,Education ministers,academic results,thousands,Our results,a “digital detox,an overall improvement,distraction,NSW,schools,classrooms,a “digital detox*,education research Blaise Joseph,pen and paper tests,a generally accepted opinion or decision,Independent Studies director,tech time,modern,screens,a connection,"stagnant,These children,a student successGLOSSARYcontemporary,other benefits,homework,The Illawarra Grammar School,Schofields,class focus,our brain,All that,Martin Ollman,responses,Principal Cathy Hey,our own research,Principal,improvements,Illawarra Grammar School,a situation,the amount,technology and education,attention spans,NAPLAN,the school,supplied Mr Joseph,student focus,comprehension*,Centre for Independent Studies,peoplecritical thinking,a role,literacy,efforts,last week,learning and memory,the early optimism*,a petition,a group,Heads Up Alliance,NSW Education Minister Prue Car,a movement,supplied NSW Education Minister Prue Car,NSW schools,parents,’s use,something good,part,all this excitement,distractions,Digital,phones,The Daily Telegraph,The Illawarra Grammar School Principal Julie Greenhalgh,nowoptimism,the classroom.The,Alliance,a result,less screens,READING LEVEL,a growing number,students’,groups,the process,Centre,the right balance,English,a bigger impact,screen time,A growing number,Reading levels,Federal Education Minister Jason Clarehttps://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/2d078c1bbf5956678d9d056c12332bc3https://origin.kidsnews.com.au/spelling-bee/experts-suggest-literacy-could-help-kids-can-build-resilience-to-bullying/news-story/734e70c68bcecff777a6c51c0d8e6ffeKidsNewsen2026-08-09T14:30:00+10:00Surprise way kids topple bullyingits sometimes serious consequences,– things,the outcome,6th PM,Picture,’s Spelling Bee,Wonders,LISTEN TO THIS STORYSurprise way kids,Registrations,registrations,What percentage,your chosen quote or insight,the door,supplied Kathryn Heyman,bullyingGLOSSARY resilience,Kathryn Heyman Bullying,kidsnews.com.au POLLKids News poll,normalise,the most,RMIT Associate Professor,McArthur,20 minutes,The Prime Minister,bridge,detail,her brother Patrick,Kids News’,Secondary Education System,School Round,Kathryn Heyman,mega,little wonder bullying,supplied Prof McArthur,Experts,defence,bullying GLOSSARY resilience,week recordsPM,online –,resilience,kids,varied or different EXTRA READING,charge,February 21,numerous quotes and data points,Visit spelling-bee.com.au, kidsnews.com.au POLL Kids News poll,words,or experience.Time,Genevieve McArthur,a paragraph,Grove,any level,readers,the driver,How many students,Heyman,’s Primary and,your life,Australia,experts,the school round,the lives,award-winning Australian author Kathryn Heyman,language,Learning,basic skills,school,Circle,young learners,EnglishVCOP ACTIVITYRead,reading, writing and spelling,emotions,59,Australian author Kathryn Heyman,Green level,the 2025 survey,Year 3,Visit spelling-bee.com.au,the article,their experiences,60,Kung Fu punctuationPair,new release Circle,Early literacy,the bullies,an early introduction,student wellbeing,one proven line,author Bee breaks,that world,’s research,life,person and,Christine Grove,this diversity,better outcomes,the language,reading,child mental health literacy,GREEN,a free, fun classroom activity,time,five Australian students,GREENBullying –,mental health,the relationship,bullies,my world,a trusted adult,1974,The messages,children,exciting and safe and comforting – things,foundation literacy skills,education and development psychologist Christine Grove,your parents,thisdiversity,Friday 21,shape,the magic,her flourishing vocabulary,your experience,That resilience toolbox,a key concern,childhood literacy,nothing else,reading difficulties,schoolyard bullies,the shape,school.With,’s kids,more government attention,fun classroom activity,Reading and storytelling,the Growth Distillery survey,’s physical and,the sense,Australian Catholic University,over 70,power,Books,reading-related wellbeing.Prof McArthur,a lasting impact,health,NED-9828-Try-the-Bee-BannerPart,supplied RMIT Associate Professor Christine Grove,that magic,the ability,writing and spelling,Surprise way kids,differentEXTRA READINGFrom,the survey,resilience*,cent,a very young age,something magical,a wide vocabulary,the world,Dr Grove,five students,’s Primary,Spelling BeeQUICK QUIZWhat percentage,over 70,000 students,the keys,Bullying –,schools and kids,the Prime Minister,August,children language,literacy,a free,her future,face-to-face –,mums and dads,bullying,parents,Bullying,positive self-image,kindergarten,that diversity,her future.RMIT Associate Professor Christine Grove,Australian Catholic University Professor Genevieve McArthur,literacy skills,a gateway”,5pm AEST,the normal or usual situation,those emotions,a problemThere,opening week records,surveyed parents,one quote or survey finding,a way,this activityCurriculum Links,iStock,000 students,Spelling Bee registrations,READING LEVEL,a child,mega authorBee breaks,control,a defensive layer,my environment,one key ingredient,this story,English,bullyingCLASSROOM ACTIVITIES1,The Forces Shaping,Award-winning Australian author,NED-9828-Try-the-Bee-Banner Part,reading-related wellbeing,classroom culture,Reading levels,PMhttps://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/d25ac7088873ab3b177a4cbdcfb2b15ahttps://origin.kidsnews.com.au/environment/possibility-of-worst-el-nino-since-1877-super-weather-event/news-story/4f1872aefac7f6cebc6a5ad21f2b88a2KidsNewsen2026-08-09T14:00:00+10:00World on watch for ‘Super El Nino’the Pacific,summer.America,such extreme claims,Crops and livestock,a “very strong” El Nino,ABC News Official agencies,a particular week,mass famines and death.The estimate,Picture,famine,a particular week.The WMO,supplied Colonial policy,poverty,just a fortnight.The El Nino threshold,UNICEF,population,worst ever El Nino,eastern Australia,a major role,WMO,some key Pacific monitoring regions,conditions,the North Atlantic,populations,several continents,average,the past couple,mass famine,Super El Nino,28,the printing press,the crisis,Possibility,perhaps the strongest,October,food shortages,about half a degree,1.94 C,the Earth,a globalised distribution*,humanity,widespread crop failures,food crops,further strengthening,File PACIFIC TEMPERATURES RISING,several continents.But,food,the system,Tourists,an 1877 El Nino,watch,a perfect storm,Australia,This time,recorded history,Climate,October and December,the Murray-Darling Basin,National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,spring,World Meteorological Organisation,extreme weather events,local production,warmer surface temperatures,extremely low.WHAT,famine and other disasters,drought, flooding and wildfire risks,El Nino.Australia,talk,a summer heatwave,’s 10 driest winter-to-spring periods,exceptionally warm oceans,’s winter,Brook Mitchell/Getty Images,the most challenging,a public water fountain,Africa and Brazil,ocean conditions,2.9 C,500 to 1000 years,the most extreme global weather or climate event,recorded history.Peer-reviewed research,’s Bureau,1877 super weather event,the impact,The relative Niño3.4 index,’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,El Nino,1950,cent chance,a possible positive Indian Ocean Dipole*,the vulnerability,the highest,centuries.The,the Pacific Ocean,hotter, drier conditions,a strong El Nino,worst El Nino,its most intense drought,The World Meteorological Organisation,the technical threshold,an increased risk,agencies,drought,Asia,US meteorologist Ryan Maue,a growing El Nino,81,a weather system gathering,Monsoonal Asia,failed rains,the time,more than 50 million people,early 2027,international aid agencies,flooding and wildfire risks,the developing event,a 97,temperatures,A climate expert,That combination,Meteorology,Ryan Maue,0.8C.The majority,heatwaves,a perfect storm.Colonial policy,a global famine,their latest numbers,other disasters.PACIFIC TEMPERATURES RISING,Dry conditions,the El Nino,below-normal rainfall,southern and eastern Australia,the strongest,an event,The WMO,the central tropical Pacific —,positive Indian Ocean Dipole,The majority,summer,1877,the Journal,food distribution*,the country,.That combination,more than 50 million people.Monsoonal Asia,the coming El Nino,the possibility,ORANGE,roughly four,a possible positive Indian Ocean Dipole,developed countries,July 26,places,some confusion.But,the probability,August and October,a “Super El Nino*,levels,0.8C.,heatwaves, drought and pestilence*,The El Nino,A record-breaking El Nino,cent,a key measure,unusually warm waters,World,the world,bushfire,large parts,The El Nino threshold,early 2027.The World Meteorological Organisation,at least 800 years,the event,centuries,a growing,historic weather system,temperature anomalies,months,an extreme Indian Ocean Dipole,drought and pestilence*,the week,A weather expert,the unusually wet start,the most catastrophic climate episodes,just a fortnight,AP Photo/Christophe Ena,August,’s drying influence,the time.Nowadays,Peer-reviewed research,an astonishing four,the entire disaster,El Nino years.Rainfall,simultaneous droughts,form.A,the broader crisis,El Nino weather patterns,’s population,the Bureau,international models,Sydney or Melbourne,Asia, Africa and Brazil,the likelihood,a positive Indian Ocean Dipole,the most challenging climate event humans,America,the tropical Pacific,an extraordinary combination,The potentially historic weather system,READING LEVEL,some confusion,less developed nations,1877-78,warnings,the El Nino gathering,mass famines and death,Bureau of Meteorology,Researchers,one meteorologist,advanced technologies,another El Nino,the invention,The estimate,Parishttps://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/e3b8e26097033fc5b215b20b34ce0167https://origin.kidsnews.com.au/arts/hanson-imagined-as-greek-siren-in-knights-victorian-voters-cartoon/news-story/6c2099513f79db1bc3c7ece0dc7008c2KidsNewsen2026-08-09T13:30:00+10:00Will Vic hear Hanson’s siren song?his demise,Adaptations,her approval rating,his wife and son,the Opposition Jess Wilson,the Trojan War,Her call,Picture,the vessel,a rocky reef,their act,the Victorian election,the gods,the 1990s,ocean whirlpools,her One Nation Party,Another challenging moment,more conservative policies,multiple forms,this peril,protesters,the Labor Party,The war,The Odyssey film,metaphors,corruption,Jesse Thompson/Getty Images,its leader Pauline and Victorian candidates,the promise,a state election,fact,Labor,the November election,some good excuses,destruction,humanity,Pauline,the nose*,One Nation Party,Greek and Roman mythology,the Sirens,people,the great stories,Premier,stage,a lot,his way,such tales,the enticements*,Amazing stuff,voter dissatisfaction,This November,the wilderness,OgygiCyclops,a decade,The Liberals,a plus,Greek mythologynymph,One Nation policies,later Greek authors,the moment,Melbourne,pigs,Natalie Adams,Knight,file Zendaya,Hanson,the mast,the venue,new film,the meteoric* rise,western Anatolia,the Odyssey,a stunning tourist destination,nymphs,The Odyssey film 2026/file,Australian politics,the praises,GLOSSARYTrojan wars,candidates,’s One Nation,Ben Carroll,a giant Cyclops*,party,Philosophy,Christopher Nolan,’s Victorian voters cartoon,Jacinta Allan,the electorate,the green sea,a legendary 10-year conflict,Dan Andrews,a multi-headed monster,birdlike women,natural settingsCalypso,November,the biggest inroads,Sailing past,the most popular party,a nymph,ordinary Australians,voter attention.While,the three-hour marathon epic flick,Messina,The Victorian Leader,Senator Pauline Hanson,previous Opposition Leaders,’s siren song,wax,her state party leader,Labor Party,a Greek tragedy,The Strait,a little,Sicily and Italy,divine wisdom,new Victorian Labor Premier Ben Carroll,Luis Enrique Ascui,the time,leader,my political cartoons,a Greek king,the mythological many-headed monster Scylla,the progressive side,’s populist* policy positions,the Melbourne event,the incumbent* Labor Party,this week,Victorian voters,his close friends,a supporter,Warren Pickering,POLLKids News poll,a selfie,a long shot,Orange level,the rocky shores,Victoria,One Nation candidate,Ulysses,political events,Troy,A large number,the blockbuster new movie,the goddess Athena,Ancient Greek mythology,their ears,his crew,his 10-year journey home,the hypnotic calls,August 3rd,the Siren,an event,beautiful young women,the Scylla*,his men,’s Odyssey,literature,Labor voters,her side,file,the Trojan wars,’s call,the new film,power,his mates,a string,ORANGE,the key events,Premier Dan Andrews,a Queensland,analogies,the welcome mat,the ship,voter attention,Jess Wilson,young Jess Wilson,modern Australian politics,massive state debt,Newly,’s take,Homer,’s siren,The Labor Government,recent opinion polls,seven years,many states,Labor government,the early Greeks,Matt Damon,Pauline Hanson,the people,Ancient Greek storytelling,cartoonist Mark Knight,a goddess,Calypso,12 years,great knowledge,Greek mythology*,The Odyssey film 2026/file Zendaya,whose songs,Getty Images,centuries,a better job,the Labor vote,his deputy Jacinta Allan,the traditional parties,the pub,both Labor and Liberal,a cartoon,soaring crime,sailors,Australians,the Coalition,Greek Siren,recent results,the 12th or 13th century BCE,a group,her policies,the stench,NewsWire/Luis Enrique Ascui,politics,the island,Ithaca,a giant Cyclops,One Nation orange flowing robe,Odysseus,times,Not everyone,One Nation,iStock,the next election,a panicked Premier Carroll,Jesse Thompson/Getty Images Pauline Hanson,READING LEVEL,a sea nymph,Greek and Roman myths,a polished political speech-maker,British director Christopher Nolan,minor immortals,Newly announced,Getty Images Pauline Hanson,Vic,English,my Sirens idea,her flame red hair,Reading levels,the Ancient Greek poem,The Odysseyhttps://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/7510eb8f22b586398fe1d007f980a72f