Week 9 - Courage

This week students learnt the origin of the word courage, it is distinct and separate from that of bravery. It’s more of a behaviour or action. People often define courageous acts as something that comes from the heart. Courage doesn’t necessarily come with an absence of fear. In fact, being courageous normally involves taking action in spite of fear. It’s knowing full well that something will be dangerous or hard but doing it anyway. Bravery tends to be more spontaneous, whereas courage comes with a high degree of choice.

Topic 8

Evidence states that children in the early years of school are often seen as being too young to understand or to have experienced gender discrimination or gender violence. However, young children can and do experience gender discrimination and violence and they need the language and strategies to challenge these experiences and protect themselves. Self-care and help seeking strategies empower children to assert their rights over their own bodies and to gain the support they need if someone is breaching their rights. While people are often worried that knowledge of things ‘wrong’ in the world may tarnish children’s innocence, it is essential they are aware that their body belongs to them and they have the right to say no and get help. School-based prevention programs have been found to be effective in increasing student knowledge and protective behaviours. These programs aim to build children’s comfort level in disclosing inappropriate sexual advances or exposure to violence.

Warrnambool Primary School Council Wellbeing Subcommittee 2023

Wellbeing Teacher - Tonya Ferguson

Days of work Monday to Thursday

The state government’s roll out of the school mental health menu funds have allowed us to employ a ‘wellbeing teacher’ in 2023 who will:

Promote Positive Mental Health within the entire school community.
Support the implementation of mental health and wellbeing, through face to face teaching of students in the classroom.
Enable schools to provide early intervention to support students who may be at risk or disengagement or mental health concerns, through individual or group work, guided by the need of the students.
Provide targeted and more individualised support for students who need it, through programs offered in school and referrals to services and supports available in our community.
Provide support to classroom teachers and school leadership in the development and management of required Individual Support Plans that promote both staff and student wellbeing.

Student Wellbeing and Counsellor- Jess White

Days of work Monday, Tuesday and Friday

Is a qualified social worker whose role at Warrnambool Primary School is varied, with an overall my aim to ensure every student’s wellbeing is supported and advocated for.

To do this Jess will;

Enhance the capacity to develop positive and engaging school culture and to support students who are at risk of disengagement and not achieve their educational potential.
Conduct one-on-one counselling for students for a variety of reasons, individual to student needs. These sessions promote positive mental health and wellbeing.
When required complete or support families with referrals to services including mental health services, CAMHS, DFFL, orange door, psychologists, family violence services and more.
To focus on priorities, particularly in tackling bullying and supporting students with mental health or welfare issues.
To support a case management approach to student interventions, including participating in student support groups and conduct follow ups.
To work in partnership with school and community-based and students support services and networks to develop programs that promote health and wellbeing.

Other representatives for the Wellbeing Sub-Committee 2023

Foundation- Julie Giblin

Grade 1/2- Edwina Medro

Grade 3/4 - TBC

Grade 5/6 - Lidia Allen

Koorie Engagement Officer- Gina Mills

First Aid- Gaye Welsh

The Wellbeing Committee hold monthly meetings and strive to support Warrnambool Primary School to be somewhere that every staff, student and community member can flourish, through inclusive education.

We can be contacted via the school office on (03) 5561 5955, if you would like to speak with a member of the Wellbeing Sub-Committee.

Every Day Counts

Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education. Students learn new things at school every day – missing school puts them behind. Below is some information and tips on how to help your child.

Student Birthdays