Western Heights College Newsletter

WELLBEING

Wellbeing Update

 

The last few weeks have been very busy for the wellbeing team. Year 10 students are still talking about the Wellbeing day held recently. The boys took part in a powerful session with the crew from Mancave all day, and were supported to share some of their stories and feelings. Girls were challenged regarding their self esteem and relationships with others by the Lifechanger team, and members of the wellbeing team.

 

Last week the Year 9 students took part in a full day workshop with the team from Lifechanger, enjoying some interactive activities and looking at the power of words, and the importance of values. Wellbeing days for other year levels are in the planning stages and will be conducted in the coming weeks.

 

The Raise mentoring program held their graduation last week with a great celebration with plenty of food and some sad goodbyes after 20 weeks. Some significant relationships were developed and students expressed their gratitude for the support and life experience shared by their mentors.

 

Update from Uniting Care

Western Heights College has been very fortunate over many years to have the support of Uniting Care to assist with the provision of uniforms and books for our students.

They are again making this available to families who require assistance. 

 

Families will need to contact Uniting Care on 4210 1100 between 9:30 and 12 Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to make an appointment to assess what support they can offer.

 

Uniting Care are also having a Christmas appeal. They have over 200 families on their books supporting over 400 students from various schools. Western Heights is happy to support this appeal, leaving a box at the general office for donations of gifts for children/young people. We would be grateful if you could support this appeal by donating a gift as Uniting Care have given generously to students and families at our school for many years.

 

Jenny Eastwood, Chaplain

Man Cave 

On Friday 20/10/2023 Year 10 students were participating in the Man Cave workshop. The year 10 students enjoyed the activities run on the day, students were engaged in conversations that promoted self-discovery and understanding of their own identity in the context of their peers. Students had a positive experience participating in the workshop and were empowered and grateful to be apart of the Man Cave workshop. The Man Cave is a workshop that is run at schools and provides an opportunity for young people to discuss unique challenges of masculinity. The Man Cave aims to help young people navigate and empower young people to express their identity in a health way.

School Lawyer Updates: Staying Safe Online

Hello from your School Lawyers! 

 

Staying safe online and navigating online behaviour can be tricky for both young people and adults. There are resources that can help. 

 

The eSafety Commissioner is an independent government agency that aims to ‘empower all Australians to have safer, more positive online experiences’. 

 

Information to Help You Stay Safe Online 

 

The eSafety Commissioner has a heap of resources for young people that can: 

 

  • Explain what to do if you’ve been trolled, scammed, cyberbullied, pressured to share nudes/ intimate images or experienced other negative behaviour online. 
  • Explain what to do if you’ve had your own online behaviour called out.
  • Help you have more positive experiences online including online gaming, balancing your time online and managing pressures from social media. 

 

This info can be found here: https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people 

 

Information for parents and carers can be found here: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents 

 

Report Negative Online Behaviour 

 

If you or someone you know has experienced or seen abusive, negative or inappropriate behaviour online, it can be reported to the eSafety Commissioner.

 

The eSafety Commissioner can investigate: 

 

  1. Serious online abuse: 
  • This is where something is shared, posted or sent online that is likely to cause harm to another person. For example, cyberbullying someone under 18 by sharing or threatening to share an intimate image. 
  • Harmful content could be in the form of a video, text, image, message, meme, post or other form. It could be sent or shared online through websites, social media, apps, online games or other methods. 

 

  1. Illegal or restricted online content:
  • This is content that might show violent crimes, terrorist acts or other illegal activity that has been posted online. 

 

BEFORE you report to the eSafety Commissioner, you must FIRST report it to the platform it is posted on (like Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, Reddit or Snapchat). If the content is not removed, you can report it to the eSafety Commissioner. You should keep evidence like screenshots. Once a report is made, the eSafety Commissioner will investigate. The eSafety Commissioner has powers to get the content taken down, order someone to stop their cyberbullying behaviour, issue a fine or start legal action. 

 

More info on the types of behaviour you can report and how to report can be found here: https://www.esafety.gov.au/report/what-you-can-report-to-esafety 

 

Where to From Here? 

 

We are here to help students understand their legal rights and responsibilities. When a legal issue does arise, we can provide free and confidential legal help to students. 

 

You can contact us by email (whcschoollawyer@barwoncommunitylegal.org.au), letting a teacher or staff member know you want to chat to us or dropping by the School Lawyer office, across from the kitchen in the grey building on Mondays or Fridays. 

 

           

 

Image credit: eSafety Commissioner 

 

 

Respect Netball Cup

On Friday the 13th of October 130 year 9 students from 8 secondary schools in The City of Greater Geelong, Colac Otway and The Surf Coast Shire came together to participate in The Barwon Respect Cup. 

The Barwon Respect Cup is a community based respectful relationship program which aims to inform young people on the drivers of gender-based violence so they are able to make informed choices to challenge those drivers in their relationships to move towards a safe and equal future. 

The event is led by The City of Greater Geelong and Netball Victoria alongside community partners Barwon Community Legal Services, the Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre and the Department of Education (Respectful Relationships). 

The day began with an epic thumb wars tournament before students were paired up with another school for a morning of interactive respectful relationship workshops.  In these workshops students explored topics such as gender stereotypes, coercive control and other types of relationship violence, consent, personal boundaries as part of a healthy relationship and safe bystander interventions. 

After lunch the young people gathered on the Kardinia Park netball courts to play a netball round robin. The school with the most points at the end of the day. Earnt through showing respect in the workshops and on the court, as well as through winning netball games, would be awarded the Respect Cup. 

After four closely fought netball rounds, played through at times heavy rainfall, Western Heights College came out on top after winning all of their games and showing a high level of respect towards each other, opponents, umpires and facilitators throughout the day. 

 

Lisa Cooper

Term 4 Regional Parenting calendar 

Please see attached the Term 4 Regional Parenting Calendar. This includes articles regarding timetables about education classes available.

 

2023 Term 4 Regional Parenting Calendar[37].pdf

SUPPORT YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATION WITH 12 MONTHS FREEINTERNET AT HOME

The Australian Government has established the School Student Broadband Initiative to provide free home internet for one year for up to 30,000 eligible families with school-aged students.

The initiative aims to boost education opportunities. NBN Co is leading the rollout of this initiative across the country.

How the School Student Broadband Initiative can help your child

Children who can access online learning at home as part of their education are more likely to engage in classroom activities. 

Access to fast internet at home can also support children to build their digital skills, learn how to safely use the internet and take part in a world that is more reliant on digital technology.

Eligibility: 

To be eligible, families must:

- have a child living at home enrolled in an Australian school in 2023

- not have an active National Broadband Network internet service at their home (having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility)

- live in a premises that can access the National Broadband Network through a standard connection. NBN Co will check this for you after you apply

- register interest with your school and complete a consent form to be assessed for eligibility.

How the School Student Broadband Initiative works

If you are eligible, your home internet service will be provided at no cost for one year with a participating internet provider over the National Broadband Network. Each internet provider has its own step-by-step process to get you connected, which may involve you providing identification.

Once you sign up, the internet provider will help you set up your connection. The initiative does notinclude devices such as a computer or tablet. Other members of your household can use the internet service provided through this initiative.

The one-year period will start from the day your service is activated with your chosen provider. At the end of the one-year period, you will not be placed onto a paid service by your internet provider without your consent. The Australian Government is considering options beyond the one-year free period.

How to apply

- Ask your school for a copy of the School Student Broadband Initiative consent form.

- Complete the consent form and return to the school.

- NBN Co will use student address details on the consent form to confirm eligibility.

- If you are eligible, NBN Co will issue a voucher for your family to use to sign up with a participating internet provider. This will be provided to you by your school.

 

Please note: NBN Co will review the home address for eligibility. No personal information other than your main home address will be shared with NBN Co. Please see the consent form for details about how personal information will be used.

Find out more

For more information about the School Student Broadband Initiative, visit: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au

Keeping Compass Green

The Engagement and Wellbeing team started the year off on making Compass Green. This

 means acknowledging ‘school wide positive behaviours’ and awarding students with green chronical entries linked to the school values of Community, Courage and Integrity. Points are

 collected across the houses each term. The house that wins will receive a special lunch at the end of the term. Parents/guardians can go onto Compass to see your if your child has received a green chronical entry and chat about what they mean. Each of the year levels celebrate these entries in mentor groups and individual achievements in assemblies. 

Attendance

Daily school attendance is important for young people to succeed in education and to ensure they don’t fall behind both socially and developmentally. Young people who regularly attend school and complete Year 12 or an equivalent qualification, have better health outcomes, better employment outcomes, and higher incomes across their lives.

 

Our college places great importance in all students being at school on time, every day the school is open for instruction.

 

We understand that sometimes getting your child to school may be difficult and our college is very happy to work with you to improve your child’s attendance.

 

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact me on (03) 5277 1177.

 

Thank you.

 

Sonia Raschilla, Head of First Aid and Attendance

Our Inclusion Team for 2023

 

Inclusive Practices Learning Specialist: Shona Scorringe

Shona is in her final year of a Master of Specialist Inclusive Education at Deakin University. She has previously taught English as an Additional Language and low literacy students in the Northern Territory and in China. Shona teaches Literacy in the Vocational Major (formerly VCAL) and is passionate about applied learning. Shona is leading our inclusion team and our transition to the Disability Inclusion reform.

 

Located in the Year 8/9 Building 

Monday - Friday

Shona.Scorringe@education.vic.gov.au

 

Inclusion Support: Georgie Barker

Georgie is currently studying a Master of Disability Studies, specialising in Deaf and Hard of Hearing at Macquarie University. She also has a Master of TESOL with a background working with English as an Additional Language and low literacy students. Georgie teaches in our English domain and will be supports our Inclusion team with Student Support Group meetings and developing Individual Education Plans. She is looking forward to working with students to achieve positive learning outcomes.

 

PSD Coordinator, Inclusion Support: Kerryn Cramp  

Kerryn has worked at Western Heights College for 23 years as an Education Assistant and as our PSD coordinator. She works in the classroom and within the Inclusion team, making referrals for assessments. Kerryn is a valuable member of our team who is passionate about the team she works with and grateful for her colleagues and students.

 

Located in the MYR Building

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday

 

Wellbeing Contacts:

Pastoral Care

College Chaplain: Jenny Eastwood 

Located in the Purple/Grey building 

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

jennifer.eastwood@education.vic.gov.au  

  • Pastoral Care: Students, staff, parents
  • Loss and Grief 
  • Management and Referrals – MHP/TGP
  • Mentoring Programs – GROW, RAISE, etc. 

Health Promotion Nurse: Lisa Cooper

Located in the Purple/Grey building

Monday & Tuesday

lisa.cooper@education.vic.gov.au

  • Classroom support: sexual health, cyber health, and special programs/activities – Idahobit, diversity, etc. 
  • Individual health support for students
  • Implements and leads supporting health programs – i.e., ‘Docs and Teens’
  • COG & Batforce liaison 
  • Staff first aid training and other related professional learning

Mental Health Practitioner: Jordy Morgan

Located in the Admin building

Monday - Friday

Jordan.Morgan@education.vic.gov.au

Jordy has experience working with young people and adults who are experiencing a range of mental health or social difficulties. 

  • Counselling support to young people, individually and in group settings
  • Support students to connect with external services
  • Promote mental health awareness and prevention

Barwon Community Legal Service: Emma Cvitak and Madelaine Landini

Located in the Purple/Grey Building

Mondays & Fridays

whcschoollawyer@barwoncommunitylegal.org.au

  • Free and confidential legal help for individual students about common legal issues, including: Family violence or trouble at home; Consent in relationships, sexting and dating; Getting official documents like birth certificates; Issues with Police or Court; Cyberbullying, harassment and online safety; Vaping, Smoking and Partying; Scams; Feeling unsafe; Issues at work; Experiencing any harm; and Fines
  • Classroom programs

We are here to help students understand their legal rights and responsibilities. 

 

Koorie Engagement Support Officer: Sarah Upton

0421 780 718 

Sarah.Upton@education.vic.gov.au 

Sarah is a proud Gunditjmara woman who has been living in beautiful Wadawurrung country for 4 years and has been involved in the education system for several years as a generalist teacher. She has always been passionate about Koorie students achieving high outcomes during their education journey.  Sarah feels fortunate to be working as a Koorie Engagement Support Officer (KESO) within her local Aboriginal community. She is a lifelong learner and firmly believe that education is essential to building solid foundations to empower students and their families have a voice and allow them to make positive independent strong choices to benefit them in the future which will allow them to feel like they can be the best version of themselves and contribute to society in a positive manner. 

 

 

Engagement and Wellbeing 

Learning Community Leaders: Marli McCarthy (7), Ben Cook (8), Louise Van Dugteren (9), Roger Conron(10), Claire Sullivan (11), Brett Bullock (12).  

  • Supporting students in the relevant community with a focus on attendance, engagement and wellbeing.
  • Leading the implementation of SWPBS and Berry Street.
  • Contact point with students, families and mentors

WELLBEING SUPPORTS

 

If you are worried about your child, or any person and their mental health and well-being outside school hours or during weekends you can contact the Barwon Health Mental Health Triage for urgent support 24/7 on 1300 094 187.

 

Two important messages to promote are that all of us should seek help from others when we feel down or vulnerable and that young people should tell an adult if they are worried about a friend or themselves.

 

Please find the following helpful numbers and websites to keep us connected and provide the support necessary to maintain positive mental and physical health: 

 

LOCAL SUPPORTS:

 GENERAL:

  • Lifeline – call 13 11 14 for this free Australia-wide crisis support service which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days per week OR TEXT: 0477 13 11 14 between 6pm – midnight, 7 nights a week
  • Kids Help Line – call 1800 55 1800 for free counselling and advice for young people between the ages of five and 25.
  • Headspace – eHeadspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds. (Open 9am-1am daily.
  • Reachout – visit their website for information, tools and support for young people with mental health issues.
  • Alcohol and drug foundation – free health advice for young people on alcohol and drug use, including mental health.
  • Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 https://beyondblue.org.au (Phone support all day, every day. Online support 3pm-midnight every day).
  • Suicide Callback Service – 1300 659 467. Phone support all day, every day, and follow-up calls.

Good self-care practices are important in taking care of ourselves and our mental health. Remember, it is ok to ask for help. Take care of yourself, and each other and do not hesitate to reach out to a member of our wellbeing team in our school community if you need some additional support.