Wellbeing Report
Andre Campbell
Hi everyone, just a reminder that we have a fantastic Wellbeing Team with me, Lily and Sally. We can help with any parenting worries or support your family with home or family concerns. The Wellbeing Team are on before and after school duty and we can help with any questions or queries you may have. Some students may feel a little nervous walking into school, and we can help settle your child by walking them to their classroom or setting them up with a friend and informing their teacher. For any enquiries, please email the Wellbeing Team at-
Andre.Campbell@education.vic.gov.au
Sally.Marshall@education.vic.gov.au
How Much Sleep Do Children Need?
- Babies: at least 15 hours sleep and up to 20 when they are very young.
- Toddlers & Pre-schoolers (1 - 5): about 12 to 14 hours sleep.
- Primary School: about 10 to 12 hours sleep.
- High School: at least 8 hours but up to 10 hours sleep.
This past 2 weeks many children have complained in the mornings that they are feeling tired. While our body clocks adjust to day light savings, we know as adults it can be hard to get going in the mornings. For children struggling to get to sleep, there are some great apps which can help support your bedtime routines. As adults we understand how we are affected when we are over tired, and I would like to encourage parents to actively have reasonable expectations about bedtime routines.
Magpie Nesting Season
It’s coming up to that time of the year where magpies are rearing their young. For students walking or riding their bikes/scooters to school I’d like to encourage parents to talk to them about magpies swooping, and any personal worries. Please support them with solutions in case any are fearful. In previous years I have heard some epic tales of bravery where children have avoided being swooped and have lived to tell the tale!
Save the dates- 2024 Prep Transition
Children enrolled for Preps next year are invited to be a part of the transition program.
- Tuesday 17th October Prep transition 2pm-3pm
- Tuesday 31st October Prep Transition 2pm-3pm
- Tuesday 14th November Prep Transition 2pm-3pm
- Wednesday 29th November Prep Transition 9:30am-11am
- Step Up Day Tuesday 12th December 9:30-12:30pm.
Please bring along playlunch and a hat.
Health Alert-Chicken Pox
Last week we had cases of chicken pox in the junior school. The symptoms of chickenpox can include:
- Low-grade fever.
- General discomfort, illness or lack of wellbeing (malaise).
- Intensely itchy skin rash – appears as small blisters surrounded by irregularly- shaped patches of inflamed skin. The blisters first form on the body and later on the head and limbs. They usually burst and develop crusts after about five days.
- Ulcers may develop in certain areas, including the mouth and genitals.
For schools and children’s services centre exclusions do apply. For chickenpox, the time from infection to the appearance of the rash (incubation period) is around 14 to 16 days. A few days before the appearance of the rash, the person may feel feverish and have a sore throat and headache. The skin may be marked for some months after the rash has cleared. Any student with a case of Chicken Pox needs to remain at home until all the blisters have dried up, possibly 5 days after the rash appears.
For more information, please go the Royal Children’s Hospital website or:
https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Chickenpox_Varicella/
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/school-exclusion-table
Head Lice
Already this term I’ve had one case of live head lice in the school. We appear to consistently have low reports and it’s great that parents are checking and treating their children. I’d also encourage parents to get into the habit of checking their children’s hair weekly just to be on top of it. For students with long enough hair, please encourage them to tie it up to reduce their risk of picking them up. Please notify the office or tell your child’s teacher when you treat your child so lice alert notes can issued on COMPASS. Reminder-any child found with live lice will be excluded from school until they are treated.
Labelled Personal Property
Our lost property is located in the alcove near the staffroom. If your child loses clothing or lunchboxes these items will find their way to the alcove. Please make sure your child’s name is clearly labelled and we’ll do our best to return them to the rightful owner. At the moment, there is a large number of unclaimed jumpers and drink bottles. Please pop down to take a look. Any items that cannot be identified will be sold at the next second hand uniform sale.
Community Pantry Open Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday Afternoons-Hall Foyer
Our community pantry is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 2:30pm-3:30pm. Parents and carers can come along and meet Sandy, our LOTE teacher to pick up some food items. We have a variety of breakfast staples including long life milk, cereals, soups, rice dishes and fruit. Food Bank generously supply our Breakfast Club program and they are supplying our community pantry. 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. We have increased our order for food hamper boxes where parents can pick one up from the community pantry. The hampers are available every day of the week and parents and carers can either help themselves or contact the Wellbeing Team. We can bring them up to the kiss and drop for easy collection. There is no charge, and we are thrilled that we can extend this support to our Woori community.
Also, there are many organisations across Yarra Ranges offering support and assistance. For people looking for food relief, CIRE at the Yarra Junction hub, have food parcels and they have free bread on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The Yarra Junction hub is open for food relief, and they are a Centrelink Access Point. This service can be accessed by appointment where the school Welfare Team can refer families. If you are interested or know of any one you would like to recommend, please contact me. They are located next to the Yarra Junction Post Office, and they are open Monday-Friday 9am-4pm.
For any enquiries, please email the Wellbeing Team at-
Sally.Marshall@education.vic.gov.au
Andre.Campbell@education.vic.gov.au
Breakfast Club- Every Monday & Tuesday 8:15am-8:45am
Breakfast Club is up and running every Monday and Tuesday. Please try to drop your child off by 8:30am to avoid disappointment, Breakfast Club must close at 8:45am for the classrooms to start. Sandy and our team of volunteer helpers run the program and we always love extra parents popping in to help. For anyone interested in looking to help, either come along to Breakfast Club please let me know.
Fruit Available
Fruit is available in the classrooms for students to eat. Each week, Food Bank supply the school with a variety of fresh fruit including apples, oranges, pears and carrots.
Pantry Food Can Drive
A big thank you to the families who have donated to our pantry food can drive. All goods received have been put into our community pantry where many families have benefited. If you are able to do so, we are continuing to accept non-perishable items to community pantry food drive. Donations can be dropped off at the school office. Items which will help families include-
- Rice & pasta
- Pasta sauce
- Tomato/BBQ sauce
- 2-minute noodles
- Stock - liquid/cubes
- Tinned vegetables
- Cake mixes, pancake mix and jelly
- Muesli bars, biscuits, and crackers
- Cooking oil
- Tea, coffee and milo
- Shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, liquid soap, tissues and toilet paper
- Laundry liquid, paper towel, cleaning sprays, sponges, and wipes
- Dog and cat food including tinned and dry
General Enquiries for Second Hand Uniform
For parents looking to purchase second hand uniform you can contact the Wellbeing Team any time, Monday through to Friday. We are happy to make up bags (providing we have the stock) if parents cannot get to the school for our sales. Please email at-
Sally.Marshall@education.vic.gov.au or Andre.Campbell@education.vic.gov.au
State School Relief
We can help families who are experiencing financial hardship to purchase school uniform.
Please email at
Andre.Campbell@education.vic.gov.au or Lily.Dix@education.vic.gov.au
Chaplain Requests
The Department of Education has made some changes to the National Student Wellbeing Program in schools. For parents and carers interested, you need to sign a consent form for the chaplain to see your child. Sally is available on Mondays and Wednesdays. If you are interested in your child to see Sally, please email Sally at-
Sally.Marshall@education.vic.gov.au
Attendance Data
Over the time a child attends school, having 1- or 2-days absence does not seem like much but it does add up and can impact on missed learning opportunities.
Playtime-Playing Fairly
Fair players get to play more games. A person who plays fairly and gets on with the game allows others to enjoy the game. If they enjoy the game, they’ll want to play with that person again. People who play fairly get a reputation as good people to be around. People who don’t play fairly are not chosen as people to play games with.
Tips-
- Do comment on the other players’ good moves.
- Remember to wait your turn.
- Get started and pay attention.
- Have your go reasonably quickly when it’s your turn.
- Play by the rules.
- If you go out or get caught, just accept it.
