Classroom & Curriculum News
Miss Paglianiti & Miss Tara
This year I have also undertaken the role of Mental Health Leader alongside Tara as the Wellbeing Leader.
This role isn’t designed to be a psychologist or allied health professional. Instead, our knowledge of teaching and the in-classroom experience to boost the capacity and capability of teachers’ mental health literacy, help support teachers to know when and how to refer students internally within the school and externally to dedicated support services and drive new mental health and wellbeing initiatives across the school.
We will facilitate key projects and initiatives, such as:
- professional learning on mental health literacy, and how to refer students for further support
- develop, implement and support whole school approaches
- supporting leadership to plan the use of our Schools Mental Health Fund on the Schools Mental Health activities.
As part of this project we have
Exciting News:
Therapy Dog coming to us soon!!!
We are very excited to announce that we are running the therapy dog program starting Term 4.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we move through the academic year, it’s essential to nurture not just our children's academic growth but also their emotional and social development. I am thrilled to be St Augustine’s school counsellor and wellbeing leader, dedicated to supporting every child's holistic growth and wellbeing.
My role encompasses offering individual and group counselling sessions, as well as facilitating engaging social stories group sessions. These initiatives are crafted to provide our students with the necessary tools and support to navigate the complexities of growing up, fostering resilience, empathy, and emotional intelligence along the way.
Individual Counselling:
Every child is unique, and sometimes they may face challenges that require personalised attention. Whether it’s coping with academic stress, managing emotions, or navigating social dynamics, I am here to provide a safe space for them to express themselves freely and work through their concerns.
Group Counselling:
In addition to individual sessions, group counselling offers a supportive environment for students to connect with their peers who may be experiencing similar challenges. Through group discussions and activities, they can gain insights, share experiences, and learn valuable skills for managing various situations.
Social Stories Group Sessions:
Our social stories group sessions are designed to enhance social skills, emotional regulation, and problem-solving abilities. These interactive sessions utilise storytelling techniques to explore social scenarios, teaching children valuable lessons in a fun and engaging manner.
Parental Engagement:
Your involvement is crucial in ensuring the success of our wellbeing initiatives. If you have any concerns regarding your child’s emotional or social wellbeing, please don’t hesitate to reach out to their class teacher, who will liaise with me to provide the necessary support.
Availability:
I am available every Wednesday to Friday. Should you wish to make time to discuss any concerns please talk with your child's class teacher, our learning diversity leader, deputy principal or our principal first. We can then organise a time to meet and further discuss the best ways to support your child.
Warm regards,
Tara Brennan
School Counsellor and Wellbeing Leader
With the current situations unfolding in the news lately I would like to offer some resources that you might find helpful as you talk with your children and support them through this time.
Disaster news and distressing news events: supporting children 2-5 years
Disaster news and distressing news events: supporting children 6-11 years
Kids Health Information : Discussing distressing news events with children
How to cope with traumatic news - an illustrated guide
School Assembly Friday 3rd May
Congratulations to our Student Award recipients.
Happy Birthday to all students who turned a year older.
District Cross Country
On the 8th of May, we were lucky to send 23 students to the District Cross Country at Yarraville Gardens. Selected students from 3-6 raced against other students from schools in the Westgate District.
Unfortunately, none of our students made it to the next Divisional stage, but we are so extremely proud of every student who tried their hardest, they did not give up and everyone passed the finish line with a smile on their face :)
St Augustine's is very proud of you!!
Year 1/2 News
What an amazing few weeks we have had so far this term. We have been learning a lot about the Weather and Seasons in Literacy and Inquiry, writing information reports about different weather conditions and have enjoyed hands on learning about Mass in Maths. We really enjoyed sharing a cup of milk & eating teddy bear biscuits altogether at the Biggest Morning Tea this week and it was great to see lots of money raised from the Yr 1/2 students. They all looked amazing in their letter 'T' dress ups!! Over this past week, we have been busy making our Mother's day gifts. We have worked really on making them very special for all our special mums to enjoy. We wish all our mothers, grandmothers and any other special women a very Happy Mother's Day on Sunday.
