Assistant Principals' Report
Hello and welcome to our newsletter item for this week.
Attitudes to School Survey (AtoSS) for Years 4-6
All government schools must participate in AtoSS, providing the opportunity for students from Year 4 to Year 12 to complete the survey. The survey provides data that helps the department understand student perspectives of their school and to improve the schooling experience.
Data collected includes how students feel in relation to their school, their learning, peer relationships, resilience, bullying, health and wellbeing, physical activity, and life in general.
AtoSS is aligned with the department’s Framework for Improving Student Outcomes 2.0. Data from the survey are used to inform school improvement and planning to support student learning and wellbeing.
Parent/ carer courses and support services
Parent/carer courses and support services, such as those listed below provide evidence-based, practical strategies to help your child manage big emotions, build resilience, and develop positive behaviours. They focus on fostering secure attachments and improved communication. When parents/carers feel confident and informed, they build stronger relationships with their children, leading to happier family environments. From early childhood to teenagers, evidence-based courses help parents/carers understand developmental stages and provide tools to support your child’s learning journey—whether at home or in school.
The below courses and websites have been recommended by Student Support Services and we have heard positive feedback from many of our families who have engaged with the courses in the past.
Triple-P Positive Parenting Program
Aims to provide parents and caregivers with simple, practical strategies to parent children positively. It is evidence-based and strengths-based and supports building and maintaining positive and nurturing relationships with children. It builds on existing parenting skills and strategies can be adapted to suit individual values, beliefs, and needs. Available programs include:
- Triple-P for Baby (0-1 year)
- Triple-P (under 12 years)
- Triple-P Children & Screens (under 12 years; strategies to support safe online use)
- Fear-Less Triple-P (6-14 years; strategies to support managing a child’s anxiety)
- Stepping Stones Triple-P (under 12 years; strategies to support children with a disability)
- Family Transitions Triple-P (under 12 years; strategies to support children experiencing big life changes)
Programs can be freely accessed online via: Free parenting courses | Triple P or in-person through services like Berry Street (Triple P | Berry Street) and Kids First (Triple P Seminars)
Bringing Up Great Kids
Free parenting program promoting respectful and caring relationships between parents and their children (ages 1-8 years). The program is delivered by Kids First (Bringing up Great Kids (Yarra, Darebin, Nillumbik, Banyule and Whittlesea areas)
Circle of Security (8-week program)
Free group program that helps parents to understand their child's behaviour and to build and facilitate building secure parent-child relationships (suitable for parents/caregivers of children aged 0-5 years). This program is periodically offered online / in-person by services like Nillumbik Community Hub (Programs - Nillumbik Shire Council), Anglicare Victoria (Events Archive - Anglicare Victoria), Drummond Street Services (Events - drummond street)
Tuning into Kids & Tuning into Teens (6-week programs)
Parenting program focusing on emotions – managing and recognising your own emotions to support co-regulation and facilitate children’s own emotional development. These programs are periodically (typically once per school term) offered for free by services like Headspace/Anglicare Victoria (Events Archive - Anglicare Victoria), Health Ability (healthAbility - Be Healthy and Well in Your Home and Community), Drummond Street Services (Events - drummond street)
Some of the above courses are full for Term 2, however please keep an eye out for when Term 3 dates and places become available. We will put it out to the community once we hear as well.
Other recommended websites include:
Please reach out to your child's classroom teacher or one of us if you have any questions or require further support.
Helen Thomas & Monique Rankin
Assistant Principals
Heidelberg Primary School