STUDENT WELL BEING UPDATE

At Murrumbeena Primary School, the wellbeing of our students, staff and parents are our priority.

Prioritising mental health, happiness and stress, including bullying and prevention, is important for our school community and the health of our students. This is a summary of the opportunities and programs currently on offer.

ATTITUDES TO SCHOOL SURVEY

The Attitudes to School Survey is an annual survey providing an opportunity for students to voice their opinions related to school life. The survey provides data to support student wellbeing, engagement, school improvement and planning in schools.

Distributed by the Department of Education, the survey was conducted online last week, with all Australian school students from Years 4 to 12 participating.

Our years 4, 5 and 6 students completed the survey in the IRC with Miss Vesikko. The data is confidential and anonymous. Later in the year when we receive the results they will be analysed as part of our effort to ensure our school remains a comfortable, safe and exciting learning environment.

HEADSPACE

As part of our Wellbeing focus on bullying and prevention, Headspace is conducting talks with the grade 5/6 students throughout Term 2. Headspace is a National Youth Mental Health Service that targets bullying and prevention across Australia.

Why is the Headspace program important for our school?

These workshops will help us to embed wellbeing and bullying strategies in the hope that there will be less issues in the future, particularly with students' perceptions of what constitutes bullying. This program, as it includes online behaviour, will also help us prepare students for their email accounts and increased technology use in Semester 2.

Headspace Target Modules:

Focus Area: Types of bullying (First 30 mins)

Students are asked to explore the types of behaviours that constitute bullying. This module also explores the relationships between online and offline behaviours, which could develop if online etiquette is not implemented.

Focus Area: Communicating online (Second 30 mins)

Students are provided with information and questions about cyberbullying and the responses from other people their age about how they respond and feel about cyberbullying. This focus area is designed to help students to understand that cyberbullying is another mode of bullying and help them to recognise when they may be at risk of becoming involved in bullying and other relationship issues online.

PEER SUPPORT

The whole school is participating in the Peer Support Program for 30 minutes each week. Two ‘peer leaders’ facilitate a small group of 8-10 younger students, who work together through a number of structured activities. This year's module 'Keeping Friends' is helping us explore the concept of friendship, building relationships and developing skills in empathy and critical thinking. We encourage you to talk to your children about Peer Support every week as it will help to reinforce the concepts learned in each session. A segment within the weekly school newsletter outlines the focus within Peer Support for the week.

Peer Mediators and Play Ambassadors

Senior students at MPS have been trained to provide support for students in the yard, during recess and lunchtimes. They are available to mentor, talk and play with students who may be having concerns with friendships or can't find anyone to play with.

SPORT AND HEALTH

Along with our P.E. program run by Miss Nelson, we offer number of programs aimed at promoting healthy and exercise. These include:

5/6 sport
Athletics
Interschool Sport
Cross Country
Bike Ed
Class Sport
Swimming
Run Around the World
House run lunchtime sports (monthly)
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden (SAKG) for students in grades 3 and 4, which teaches students about nutrition, cooking and healthy eating

MASTERS OF COUNSELLING

We are lucky to have Marina, Trish and Mr Barbas working in our school. Marina and Trish are Masters of Counselling students with the Monash University and will be at our school until September. Mr Barbas is our newest member of staff and also has a Masters of Counselling. They will be available to speak with students about any worries or concerns they may have, during lunchtimes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the IRC.

CARE AND SHARE PROGRAM

For anyone who might not know what this is ....

It is a program run by parents who have volunteered to help families within our school community who are experiencing hardship. They help make their daily lives a bit easier by volunteering to make dinners, pick up kids from school, do some food shopping, driving to appointments, making school lunches or even walking the family dog!

Please contact the school office for more information.

PARENT COMMUNITY

We have number of opportunities for parents to be involved in our school. We have had Cultural Days, Harmony Week and some exciting events to look forward to, which include:

Working Bees
Trivia Nights
School Performance at the Palais

Hannah Vessiko

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