Primary Wellbeing Incursions with Healthy Harold!
Lakeside College
"Encourage one another and build each other up." — 1 Thessalonians 5:11
In September, our Primary School was blessed to host LifeEd for interactive Wellbeing incursions, featuring a very special visit from everyone’s favourite giraffe, Healthy Harold!
Aligned with R U OK? Day, the incursions gave our students an engaging space to explore emotional health, positive relationships, and personal wellbeing. Guided by our Lutheran values of compassion, being relational, having purpose, being adventurous, and serving others, students learnt that asking a friend "Are you OK?" is a simple, Christ-like act of love that builds a stronger, more supportive community.
Through age-appropriate modules and interactive discussions, LifeEd and Healthy Harold guided students across Prep to Year 6 in developing core life skills:
- Navigating Emotions: Recognising feelings in ourselves and others, and learning positive strategies to regulate emotions when feeling overwhelmed.
- Building Healthy Friendships: Understanding empathy, active listening, and what it truly means to be a supportive friend and classmate.
- Asking "Are You OK?": Learning how to notice changes in a peer’s behavior, reaching out with kindness, and knowing when to ask a trusted adult for help.
- Caring for Mind and Body: Recognizing that our physical, mental, and spiritual health are closely connected under God's loving care
| Year Level | Program Title | Core Focus |
| Prep A & B | Harold’s Friendship | Building foundational friendship skills, recognizing emotions, and healthy choices. |
| Year 1 A & B | Growing Good Friends | Understanding feelings, caring for others, and exploring positive social interactions. |
| Year 2 A & B | Growing Good Friends | Strengthening friendships, empathy, and constructive problem-solving. |
| Year 3 A & B | Friends & Feelings | Managing personal emotions, understanding self-awareness, and resilience. |
| Year 4 A & B | Friends & Feelings | Navigating changing peer dynamics, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation. |
| Year 5 A & B | Relate, Respect & Connect | Respectful relationships, personal safety, empathy, and positive connections. |
| Year 6 A & B | Relate, Respect & Connect | Leadership skills, peer pressure, digital safety, and preparing for future transitions. |
At Lakeside, we believe that nurturing student wellbeing is a shared journey between school and home. Open conversations about mental health help normalise feelings, remove stigma, and create safe spaces for children.
Warmest Regards,
Amy van Heerden
Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader in the Primary School
Digital Technologies Specialist (Prep-Year 5)