Newport Lakes Primary School

Health & Wellbeing @ NLPS

Coffee Morning 

Just a reminder about our final Coffee Morning of the year on Monday, 25th November, from 9:00am to 9:30am. Let’s come together one last time to celebrate our shared journey and end the year on a high note!We’re excited to have Sheri Seyit, (our beloved community barista), joining us and brewing her delicious Turkish coffee for everyone to enjoy. This will be a wonderful opportunity to connect with other parents, and reflect on the memorable year we’ve shared.

  • Date: Monday, 25th November 2024
  • Time: 9:00am - 9:30am
  • Location: Staffroom

An Inspiring Evening with Dr. Jodi Richardson

Last night, Newport Lakes Primary School hosted a highly anticipated parent seminar, Moving Kids from Anxiety to Resilience, presented by the renowned Dr. Jodi Richardson. The event was a resounding success, with a fantastic turnout that filled the room with parents and caregivers eager to learn practical strategies to support their children’s wellbeing.

 

Dr. Richardson shared her extensive expertise on childhood anxiety, providing valuable insights and evidence-based tools to help parents foster resilience in their children. Her warm and engaging presentation style made complex topics accessible, leaving attendees feeling empowered and equipped with actionable strategies to navigate challenges at home.

 

Key takeaways from the evening included practical strategies to dial anxiety symptoms down:

 

Controlled Breathing

Particularly focusing on making the exhale longer than the inhale. This technique signals the brain that the body is safe and activates the parasympathetic system. For example:

  • Inhale for 4 seconds.
  • Exhale for 6–8 seconds.

This longer exhale helps slow the heart rate, reduce stress hormones, and create a sense of calm.

 

Grounding Techniques

Encourage children to focus on their senses, such as naming colours they can see, things they can hear, and something they can smell or taste.

 

Physical Movement

Activities like running, jumping, or even dancing help release pent-up energy and reduce tension.

 

Avoidance is not the Solution

While avoiding situations that trigger anxiety may provide temporary relief, it only reinforces the fear over time. When we avoid something that makes us anxious, we prevent ourselves from learning how to cope with it. This avoidance can make the situation seem even more overwhelming in the future. By confronting our fears rather than running from them, we develop the tools needed to manage anxiety and feel more empowered in similar situations going forward.

 

Gradual Exposure

Help children face their fears in small, manageable steps. This will support them to build confidence and resilience. 

 

Dr Jodi also highlighted how to foster children’s resilience through our own actions. By serving as role models, responding constructively when things don't go as planned, prioritising our own mental health and remembering that resilience isn’t developed in a vacuum; children learn what they can actually cope with, and how, through experience. 

 

If you have concerns about your child’s wellbeing or would like further support, please don’t hesitate to speak with their classroom teacher. Together, we can continue to build a supportive environment for all our students.

 

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the evening. Events like these reinforce our commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our school community, and we are thrilled to see the positive impact they have.

 

Samantha Meddis 

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader

 

Melbourne Victory Game Day 

A few Year 5 & 6 students from our school have been participating in a Tier 2 wellbeing program with Melbourne Victory during this semester. On Saturday the 9th of November a group of children were invited to be part of the Melbourne Victory Women’s and Men’s A-league game. When we first arrived, we had a go at kicking some soccer balls into a net, to try and win a prize. 

 

Then we got changed into Melbourne Victory gear, as we had been selected to be the walk-on mascots with the A-League women in their match against Melbourne City FC. Unfortunately, Melbourne Victory lost 3 – 2. At half-time we then played Small Sided Football on the ground. This was so exciting to be a part of. 

 

At 3:00pm we went out of the stadium to Gosch’s Paddock (next door to AAMI Park) for a ‘Come and Try’ Football session. Here we versed some other students from other schools in a friendly soccer match.

 

There was a real buzz of excitement, as we were so eager to get on the ground to complete a Pre-game Lap of Honour before the A-League Men’s match. Whilst we completed our lap of honour at AAMI park, we were interviewed about why we love soccer, some of our favourite soccer players and if we were having fun at the gate that day.  We felt like real celebrities having to rush on and off the field during the games, going ‘backstage’ and being interviewed to be on the big screen! We then were able to watch Melbourne Victory FC vs Brisbane Roar FC. The cheer squad was going crazy during this match, as were Newport Lakes students, cheering on Melbourne Victory. The final score was 2-0 with Melbourne Victory winning!

 

That night I was unable to sleep from all the excitement and fun I had had that day. It was one of the best days of my life! A big thank you to Samantha Meddis, Tracey James, Marissa Kearney and the parent helpers, for giving up their time on a Saturday to take us there. 

 

Go Victory!

By Leo S

 

Wellbeing at NLPS

At Newport Lakes Primary School, our commitment to The Resilience Project and Student Wellbeing Month are just some examples of our dedication to nurturing students' mental, social, and emotional health. Throughout November, we are engaging in and promoting activities that are designed to reinforce practices that help build resilience and foster a positive school culture. 

 

Mindfulness is essential for children as it helps them develop resilience, manage stress, and build emotional intelligence. Working on mindfulness gives us opportunities to develop our ability to pay attention to the present moment and our thoughts. Practising mindfulness daily can help us stay focused on set tasks and reduce stress and anxiety. 

Practising mindfulness together as a family can strengthen bonds and support positive mental health for everyone involved. Here are some mindful activities you may like to try together at home:

  • Mindful Eating: Each night at dinner, ask everyone to take one mouthful of food more mindfully than the rest and think about the flavours they can taste and how it makes them feel. (They can also thank the chef!).
  • Guided Deep Breathing: Spend a few minutes practicing deep breathing exercises. Breathe in for four counts, hold for four, and exhale for four.
  • Mindful Storytime: Read a story together and discuss what emotions the characters might be feeling and how they handle challenges.
  • Nature Walks: Go for a walk and take turns describing what each person notices with their senses (sights, sounds, smells).
  • Gratitude Circle: Before bedtime or dinner, share one thing each person is grateful for that day.
  • Body Scan Relaxation: Guide your child through a body scan, focusing on relaxing each part from the head down to the toes.
  • Mindful Drawing: Create artwork together and focus on the process rather than the outcome, paying attention to the colours, textures, and patterns.
  • Listening Game: Sit quietly for a minute and take turns naming all the sounds you can hear around you.