Student Welbeing

School Breakfast Program

The EHS Breakfast Club operates on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in Room 413 from 8:15 until 8:45am. 

We know that all students function better throughout the day if they start with a healthy breakfast.

This is open to all students and no bookings are required. Simply walk in! There is a standard menu of cereals, fruit cups and toast provided plus snacks and lunch items which can be collected for later.

The Victorian Schools Breakfast program supplies most of the produce. 

There is NO charge for the students for breakfast. 

Family Breakfast Hampers Available

In addition to the Breakfast Club Program, ‘Food Share Victoria’, provides us with Family Breakfast Hampers available upon request. 

If interested please contact:   reception@elthamhs.vic.edu.au

LYN DAVIS, Student Support

Understanding Anxiety at School

School based anxiety can be depicted as a young person’s inability to tolerate their school environment.  Why is this topic imperative to explore?  Because it can impact academic performance, behavioural problems, and overall health.  This is because there is an interconnection with academic performance and personal-emotional adaptation.  

First, it is important to understand the variables involved in school-based anxiety symptoms to prevent young people’s psychological problems and improve their overall wellbeing.  These include cognitive, motivational, psycho-social, physical, and communicative components of high school life.  The results from a recent study by Shamionov et al., (2021) discovered that from 16-53% of the variables are due to a student’s ability to self-reflect, regulate their emotions, cognitive capabilities, and a desire to learn.

This next part will explore how you as a parent can improve your young person’s adjustment to their school environment to improve their overall wellbeing and academic outcomes.  

• Begin by decreasing the tension surrounding their feelings about high school.  This can be achieved by supporting your young person to articulate their feelings and needs.  This will enhance their self-regulating capabilities and decrease the intensity of the emotion. 
• Pinpoint the moment(s) of distress.  When and why do the feelings arise? It is before or after school, is it during a break time, it is due to a lack of social connections.  This type of exploration is required to enhance an individual’s resilience and improve their ability to navigate unsatisfying moments.  
• Provide support in the planning of their school day and reflect on educational activities as a family. 

If symptoms persist, we request you reach out to a Coordinator or a member of the Student Services team for further support. 

Reference: Shamionov, R. M., Grigoryeva, M. V., Sozonnik, A. V., & Grinina, E. S. (2021). The Role of Junior Adolescents’ School Well-Being/Ill-Being Characteristics in School Anxiety Variations. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 11(3), 878–893. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe11030065 ​

Free Travel Pass for Vulnerable Students

Apply for public transport travel passes for students experiencing crisis. 

The Department of Transport and Planning’s Travel Pass program provides 30-day travel passes to schools at no cost.

Schools may issue travel passes to students experiencing a crisis, such as family violence or sudden financial hardship, and are at risk of disengaging from education to ensure they can continue to travel to school by public transport.

Students’ eligibility will be determined through a case-by-case assessment by the school.

For government schools, this program is facilitated by State Schools’ Relief.

Travel Passes

The Travel Pass program provides 30-day travel passes free of charge to students in crisis attending primary, secondary, English language and specialist schools.

Travel passes can be used on:

• Bus, train and tram trips in metropolitan Melbourne (Zone 1 and 2)
• All regional town buses
• Public Transport Victoria inter-town buses
• V/Line coaches
• V/Line trains. 

How to apply

Government schools can apply on behalf of students through their State Schools’ Relief online portal.

State Schools’ Relief will distribute the passes to government schools through this online portal.

Did Your Granddad Serve in Vietnam?

Here is an invitation for students and parents to attend our annual Vietnam Veterans Community Memorial Service on Saturday 12 August 2023.

Not to celebrate war but to honour those who paid the supreme sacrifice during the conflict and those that have since passed on - and we are particularly encouraging local schools to put together a representative group to attend.

Music will be provided by Viewbank College Symphonic Band and will be played from 10:30am - the Service commences at 11:00am and will conclude at around midday.

The Catafalque party is provided by cadet units from Simpson Barracks.

The Service will feature our Sub-branch chaplain; after the service, visitors are cordially invited to join the Sub-branch members for refreshments at the Greensborough RSL, 111 Main Street, Greensborough.

There will also be an extensive display by our Education Team for a hands-on look at how the forces lived and worked in Vietnam. 

Your school will be given the opportunity to lay a Floral Tribute during the Service.

Community Memorial Service details:

• 11:00am Saturday 12 August 2023
• Greensborough War Memorial Park, 203 Henry Street, Greensborough.

MADELINE KAMAMIS, Student Services Leader