Wellbeing Matters

In this newsletter we will give you an update on the key events of Term 1, we’ll share some resources to support your child’s Mental Health during the term break and we’ll highlight some upcoming events taking place in Term 2 that we think you’ll be interested in.

Update on Term 1

The Wellbeing area has been a hub of activity during Term 1 as we continue to support our students’ mental health this year through one-to-one counselling, lunchtime clubs and wellbeing support throughout the school. In February, we welcomed students to “meet the Wellbeing team” supported by our partners from Headspace and Kingston Youth Services. It was a hugely successful event with over 100 in attendance. Students were invited to come and explore the wellbeing space, grab a snack and take home some Wellbeing resources.

One of our jobs in the Wellbeing team is to provide support across the school to improve our students' sense of connectedness both to the school and to each other. We do this by running lunchtime clubs for specific year levels and sub-schools. These clubs include Mindfulness on Mondays in the JLC (Year 7s), Junior Friends Club on Tuesdays in the Wellbeing rooms (Year 7s and 8s) and lunchtime games and activities led by Kingston Youth Services in the JLC on Thursdays (Year 7s in Term 1, Years 7 and 8s in Term 2).

We’re currently gathering student feedback on lunchtime clubs that would appeal to our Year 9s and 10s to replace a club with low take-up. We hope to share more information about this new club in our next newsletter.

Kingston Youth Festival

This weekend, Sunday 29 March – 1.30-7.00pm, Chelsea Skate Park

During the break

School holidays are a great time to rest and recharge. If your child needs support during the break, these services are available:

Immediate support

000 (Emergencies)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (ages 5–25)
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

Holiday tips

Keep routines stable
Encourage daily physical activity
Balance screen time
Check in on feelings and stay connected

If your child needs extra help, when Term 2 begins please contact the school for assistance and support.

Upcoming events

Our partners at Headspace have recently reached out to offer workshops to support our Junior students in Term 2. They will be running stress management workshops for our Year 8s and Looking after Friends workshops for our Year 7s along with senior school drop-in sessions. More information about these sessions will be made available to all students and parents closer to the time.

Keeping Kids Safe

Our partners from Kingston Youth Services have developed a free course for parents and caregivers in the City of Kingston, designed to prevent sexual violence and harmful behaviours, through a program called Keeping Kids Safe.

The program is aimed at parents and caregivers, specifically those of young people in Years 6-10, to build parents' confidence in talking to young people about respectful, healthy relationships, consent, sex and sexuality. The purpose of the program is to prevent sexual violence and harmful sexual behaviours among young people; by ensuring they have access to evidence-based information about relationships and sex, from an accurate, reliable and influential source: their trusted adults. Catering, learning materials and door prizes will be provided.

Registrations are now live at the link - https://whise.org.au/keeping-kids-safe/

For more information about the program, please contact the program coordinator, Laura Riccardi: lriccardi@whise.org.au or 0401 315 387

Wellbeing team