Student Wellbeing Team Update

Mel, Jack, Orla, Anne, Hamdi, Alanna and Sam have been busy as usual this term! A particular focus over the past few weeks has been on strengthening our offerings of small, targeted group work, programs and clubs. Updates on some of these are below! But first, we’d like to introduce you to our newest addition to the team: we have the privilege of hosting Melbourne University Master of Social Work student

Nerida over the coming term and a half as she completes a marathon 500-hour unpaid placement with us. In the coming weeks she will shadow the rest of the team to ‘learn the ropes’, before diving into some independent work to support the tasks and initiatives that the team is involved in. Her picture is on the left so that if you see her around the school yard, you know who she is and can say hi!

The Fitness Club has been running since the start of term 2 and has been a great success for those involved. Braving the beginnings of the winter cold they have done well to come early in the morning before school. The chill is quickly forgotten as Taj and Jack challenge the students to do different activities and sports to improve their overall abilities in many different areas. The Club is open to anyone that would like to join, and we are always open to new games, ideas and sports to try! It runs Friday morning from 8am, meeting outside the stadium.

Anne helped organise the Boys to Noble Men program and Eric has had this group working through what it really means for them to be a man, redefining masculinity as well as the responsibility and leadership that it takes to do this. Eric has been amazing at telling his own story but also relating to the boys in the program and meeting them at their level. On Friday 30th of May there will be a lunch with teachers invited by these students, to help show what they have learnt and how they will utilise these skills and concepts moving forwards, not just in school but their lives as well.

Taj has been organising an awesome Anime Club where students are able to talk about all things’ anime. Watching, reading and even drawing. This community has a great time during lunch on a Monday where students can form connections over a common interest. All the students and teachers are very welcoming! So, any student that is interested in finding out what Anime is about can come down to J2 on Monday lunchtime.

The Muslim Girls Group, hosted by the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights, has continued to run weekly at lunchtime, bringing together Muslim girls together to share a meal and talk about relationships from an Islamic perspective. This term, we focus on arranged vs. forced marriages. The girls learn to tell the difference between the two and gain a clear understanding of what consent really means. The workshop encourages critical thinking and gives the girls a chance to explore cultural and family values, peer, and family pressure, and how to spot warning signs. It also provides a safe space for open discussion and helps the girls feel heard and supported. Most importantly, it empowers them with knowledge and confidence to better understand their rights and choices.

The African Homework Club, run by Dandenong Community Learning Centre, offers a supportive environment where students can complete their homework with the help of tutors. In addition to working on their homework, students can explore new topics and skills through enjoyable and educational games. It’s a great opportunity for students to not only complete their homework but also develop new skills, collaborate with each other, and have fun. This term, students will work on a special project and present their findings to their peers. To ensure that students stay energised and focused, food is provided to fuel their minds and bodies!

We’re excited to share that the Le Mana Pasifika 7-week program has returned to Lyndale! This dynamic and culturally rich initiative is designed to empower our young Māori and Pasifika students by fostering cultural connection, community engagement, and leadership development. It also provides a valuable opportunity for staff to deepen their understanding of Pasifika cultures and strengthen relationships with our broader Pasifika community. The program offers interactive, culturally relevant sessions that are both educational and engaging. It creates a safe and supportive space where students can explore and celebrate their identities, build confidence, and develop a stronger sense of belonging. At Lyndale, we are committed to helping all students thrive. Through programs like Le Mana Pasifika, we proudly support our Māori and Pasifika students in embedding cultural pride and identity into their learning journey.

Dolly’s Dream is a national anti-bullying and mental health initiative founded in 2018 by Kate and Tick Everett, in memory of their 14-year-old daughter, Dolly Everett. Dolly tragically passed away after experiencing ongoing bullying and cyberbullying. In her honour, her family created Dolly’s Dream to help prevent bullying, anxiety, depression, and youth suicide through education, advocacy, and support services. Our Year 11 and 12 students recently took part in an educational program centred around Dolly’s Dream. As a reflective activity, students created butterflies—symbols that carry deep meaning within the Dolly’s Dream movement. The butterfly represents transformation and hope, turning the tragedy of Dolly Everett’s passing into positive change. It stands as a reminder of the importance of kindness and compassion in preventing bullying and supporting one another. The butterfly also honours Dolly’s gentle and free-spirited nature and has become an emblem of resilience and the powerful legacy the Everett family continues to build through their advocacy. We are proud of our students for engaging thoughtfully in this important conversation and for contributing to a culture of care and inclusion within our school community.

As always, if you would like to speak to someone from the wellbeing team, we encourage you to attend the wellbeing office (back corner of the canteen area, up the ramp) during recess or lunchtime. We are also around and happy to chat about your needs from 8:30am before period 1, or after school finishes at 3pm. If you don’t feel confident coming in to speak with us yourself, you can ask a trusted teacher to help you get connected with us. When you first speak with us, we will ask some brief questions about what type of support you need and then arrange for you to meet with one of our team members for a longer appointment within the next few days.

Celebrating IDAHOBIT Day: A Day of Pride, Kindness, and Community.

On Monday the 19th, our school community came together to celebrate The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). Held during lunchtime, the event was a vibrant and meaningful celebration of diversity, inclusion, and solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community.

A Kindness Wall offered a space for students to leave supportive, uplifting messages, and by the end of lunch, it was filled with powerful notes of encouragement and pride. Our Photo Booth provided a fun and festive way for students to show their support, with rainbow props and plenty of smiles.

We were also thrilled to welcome Dandenong Youth Services, who joined us on the day to run a badge-making station. Students enjoyed designing their own pride-themed badges to wear or share, adding another creative and personal touch to the celebration.

Throughout the event, Kindness Cards with inspirational quotes and affirmations were handed out and shared among students. These small but powerful cards helped to spread messages of hope, strength, and acceptance, sparking smiles and meaningful conversations.

The turnout was fantastic, with students from across year levels taking part and contributing to a positive, inclusive atmosphere. It was heartening to see so many students engaging with the spirit of the day and celebrating the importance of respect and equality.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the event a success. We’re proud to be a school that celebrates diversity and stands up for inclusion, on IDAHOBIT Day and every day.

Ask Izzy Website

Many things in life are out of our control, and any of us can face unexpected hardships. If you are looking for help, now or in the future, Ask Izzy is a good place to start.

Ask Izzy is a website that connects people in need with housing, a meal, money help, family violence support, counselling and much more.

It is free and anonymous, with thousands of services listed across Australia.

If you're on the Telstra or Vodafone mobile networks, you can access Ask Izzy on your phone even if you don't have credit or access to Wi-Fi.

Ask Izzy is also an online Disability Advocacy Finder tool. People with disabilities, carers and their families can use it to search for independent disability advocacy providers in their area. It can connect you with government-funded disability advocacy agencies and support services any time of day.

https://askizzy.org.au/

Year 7 Immunisations

Dear Parent/Guardian,

The Secondary School Immunisation Program will be visiting Lyndale Secondary College on Thursday 26th June 2025.

The Secondary School Immunisation Program offers free vaccines to all Year 7 students.

Year 7 students receive immunisations for:

Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (whooping cough)
Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Please complete the online consent form as soon as possible for your child to be vaccinated at school. Even if you choose for your child not to recieve the vaccination, you MUST complete the cosent form.

The link below will take you to the online consent form. The online consent form is user friendly and easy to complete.

Year 7 Immunisation Consent Form – Greater Dandenong

Please complete your child’s online consent by Tuesday 27th May.

The Falcon Newsletter

Strength, Pride & Success

Issue 3 · 22 May 2025

In this issue