Wellbeing Report 

Peaceful Warrior Program

Ten boys from Grade 5/6 have completed Anglicare’s Peaceful Warrior program. The enrolment process started back in Term 1 where the Wellbeing Team called parents to invite their sons to participate.  This program is designed to give boys confidence in facing a sometimes nervous future as they change from boys to men and move from primary to secondary school. They covered a range of topics including-

• Healthy diet, healthy mind
• Screen addictions – being active 
• Controlling anger and emotions
• Respect for mothers and women in society
• Problems with being over competitive

At the beginning of the program, the boys came to the school on Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm-8pm.  Every fortnight, the boys went on activities including-

• Kayaking day at Lilydale Lake
• River sledding at Warburton
• Caving at Wesburn
• Clifford Park adventure camp (Friday-Sunday) which included canoeing and abseiling
• Hiking at Cathedral Ranges Buxton

The program finished with a celebration evening and the boys are still talking about all the experiences they enjoyed.  Anglicare is aiming to run the program early in 2023. For interested parents who may like to learn more about the Peaceful Warriors please let me know.   

Community Pantry Starting 

Our Wellbeing Team have been planning to start a community pantry in a few weeks.  Food Bank generously supply our Breakfast Club program and they are willing to supply our school food items for our families to pick up food and supplement their budget.  

The community pantry will be run from the hall where Jeanette our Chaplain will display food items including apples, oranges, pears, carrots, milk, soups and other staple items.  All families will need to do is bring their own bags.  If you know someone going through a rough patch please reach out and let the Wellbeing Team know.  There is no charge and we are thrilled that we can extend this support to our Woori community. 

Breakfast Club-Monday & Tuesday 8:15am

Breakfast Club is now up and running every Monday and Tuesday.  This term Food Bank are offering additional deliveries and we are planning more opportunities to increase healthy food education.  We have apples, oranges, pears and carrots in the canteen fridge and the classrooms are encouraged to fill up their bowls as needed.  We can cater for food allergies including lactose and gluten free items. 

Lunches

We have some children complaining that they are starving at break times. If children are hungry this really impacts on their concentration, moods and their learning.  When the weather is cold our bodies burn more energy to stay warm so please talk to your kids and adjust their lunchboxes accordingly. My advice is to always send extra food and then parents can monitor hunger levels and have conversations about nutrition. 

Koorie Campfire Conversation 

Wednesday 25th May 5pm

This week we hosted our first Campfire Conversation night.  This is an open invitation to our community where we aim to bring Koorie communities, young people and schools together to listen, share and connect for Koorie people.  We hope to build conversations on how we can better support our Indigenous students at school.  If anyone would like to be a part of our future conversations or you have stories and connections to share please let me know.   

Head lice Update

This year parents have been doing an excellent job monitoring and treating their children for head lice.  This week head lice have been found on a student in the junior school.  All families need to continue to be vigilant and screen their children’s hair.  Please notify the office or tell your child’s teacher when you treat your child so lice alert notifications can be lodged on COMPASS.  Reminder-any child found with live lice will be excluded from school until they are treated. 

State School Relief

We can help families who are experiencing financial hardship to purchase school uniform.  Please see the Wellbeing Team for assistance. 

Don’t forget about second Hand Uniform!

Thank you to the many families who continue to purchase second hand uniform. We currently have a lot of school jumpers and summer dresses in stock. Parents and carers can purchase items from $5.00 each or 3 for $10.00. All monies raised are invested back into the school and the welfare programs which support our students. Please keep those clothing donations coming!

Playgroup at Woori Yallock Community House

For parents interested in joining playgroup our local Woori Yallock Community House is running a program on Monday mornings from 10am-11:30am.  There is an eligibility criteria so parents need to register at Yarra Ranges Supported Playgroups Ph: 1300 368 333

2022 Free Happy Families Membership

I do hope many parents have taken up this great resource.  We are reaching out to all our families as there has been past confusion. Parents who registered last year are presuming their membership is active however, it is not. Everyone needs to re-join using the QR code on the flyer.

Here is a quick tip video from Dr Justin Coulson around managing anxiety - the strategy Justin mentions can be used for your kids as well as for yourself!

If you found this tip useful and would like to see more of Justin's parenting tips and strategies, don't forget that our school is subscribed to Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families School Membership. 

The membership offers monthly live webinars and Q&A sessions with Justin, online programs, weekly inspirational emails and blogs around parenting support, positive psychology methodologies to support children and get them to thrive, tips on managing kids and tech, getting them to get along with their siblings, raising resilience and many more!  

If you are yet to sign up, please do so here (note that if you were signed up prior to October, you need to sign up again as the platform has changed). 

Craft Club at Lunchtimes 1:40pm Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Outside the Welfare Office in 3/4 area

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, students can find us where we will be teaching

pom pom making, plaiting friendship bracelets, weaving cat’s eyes, pipe cleaner craft, finger and French knitting. We are looking for donations of wool and other haberdashery items including ribbon, embellishments, buttons and charms or anything that can add a bit of bling to our projects.  All extra pairs of hands are welcome, if you are interested in helping please let me know. 

Playtime-Co-operation & Arguments 

We all have arguments from time to time and when this happens it does not mean the end of a friendship or having enemies. Point out to children that in all arguments both people think they are right. Sometimes, an argument can be resolved when it occurs.  At other times people need to avoid hurting the other people’s feelings too much at the time by going away to calm down, and then try to resolve it later.  Dealing well with arguments protects friendships and reduces bad feelings.

 Tips-

• Do try to stay calm and talk through the problem using a respectful voice.
• If you or the other person are getting upset say, “We’re getting too angry.  Let’s talk about it later,” and walk away. 
• Make sure you do talk about it later. 
• When you have calmed down, recognise that allowing the bad feelings to continue is not a good thing.  You are responsible for dealing with them. 
• When you feel calm, go and talk to the other person.
• Share your point of view and tell them about your feelings eg: “I felt bad when you did not include me in your game”.
• Let them tell their point of view.  Listen without interrupting until they have finished.
• Try to find a way to be friends again. Remember to give and take and compromise. 

Health update 

For some people getting over their mild COVID-19 symptoms, they may experience lingering fatigue, breathlessness and generally not feeling 100%.  I encourage parents to check in with their children and talk through any health complaints or worries. 

Infectious Diseases To help prevent and control the transmission of infectious diseases in schools, a child must be excluded from school if he or she has any of the following:

• Gastro/Diarrhoea - until there has not been a loose bowel motion or any symptoms for 48 hours
• Chicken Pox - until fully recovered and blisters have dried
• Measles - at least 7 days
• German Measles - until fully recovered and at least 4 days from the onset of rash
• Whooping Cough - four weeks
• Hand, foot and mouth - until all blisters have dried
• Hepatitis - medical certificate needed
• Impetigo “School Sores” - until treatment has commenced and sores are healed
• Ringworm - until treatment has commenced. Medical certificate may be required.
• Mumps - until fully recovered
• Scabies - medical certificate needed

Importantly, children who have been vomiting should not attend school until 48 hours after the vomiting ceases.

While these are some common diseases, please refer to the Better Health School Excursion Table* for a comprehensive list and updated information. Please contact the office if your child contracts any of these. Please refer to the Department of Health for further information-https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/infectious-diseases/school-exclusion/school-exclusion-table

Oonah COVID-19 Children’s Vaccinations 

Oonah have organised dates for the Vaccination bus to visit where they will offer free COVID-19 vaccinations to children. For Koorie families looking to make a booking please call Oonah on 59622940.

Oonah Playgroup 

This term Oonah have started playgroup over at the Healesville Community Link (library). Playgroup will run on Thursdays from 11am-12pm.  If you are interested in meeting other families with young children please give Emily a call to register on 5962 2940.