Wellbeing
Nicola Smith - Assistant Principal & Wellbeing Coordinator
Whole School Wellbeing Curriculum in Term 4:
Positive transitions and coping with change
Our wellbeing focus across the school this term focuses on ‘Positive Transitions and Coping with Change’. Learning draws from the Respectful Relationships topics of Problem Solving (P, 1, 3, 5) and Stress Management (P, 2, 4, 6). Students in year 4-6 will also review the Circle of Concern/Circle of Control (see below), which is a framework for thinking that many students find helpful when transitioning to a new experience. It’s also a great tool to use at home when managing a child’s anxiety or stress.
Smiling Minds in years 3/4
We are excited to have received funding to implement Smiling Mind’s evidence-based primary school curriculum program. The Primary Classroom Curriculum is a comprehensive and stand-alone SEL program. Through pre-planned lesson content, children learn, practice and integrate social and emotional skills.
Building social and emotional learning helps children identify their feelings, build resilience, understand and communicate with others, build strong relationships, and make good, empathetic decisions. As a response to our Resilient Youth Survey data last term, we are trialling the Smiling Mind program with our Grade 3/4 cohort with the hopes to extend it across the school next year. Teachers will incorporate the curriculum into their morning routines and wellbeing planning. Students will complete a survey at the beginning and end of the term so we can track the success of the program and provide us with feedback to inform further implementation.
For resources to support conversations at home and suggestions for including mindful practices in your own family routines, please see https://www.smilingmind.com.au/at-home.
Police online safety incursion in years 5/6
Last week we had two officers from Victoria Police come in to present their ‘Think You Know’ eSafety presentation to our grade 5s & 6s. Online safety education is an integral part of our whole-school wellbeing approach here at EPS. We understand that online social connection, interaction and curiosity plays an important role in the lives of our students today. As a school, we aim to keep up to date with the latest strategies to best inform and educate students about safe and healthy online behaviour. This presentation helps complement the work they are doing in the classroom and covered the following points;
- - How students are able to take simple steps to keep themselves safe online.
- - Explain how to understand the importance of keeping their personal information ‘private’ and for them to be able to recognise that the information can be shared within content such as images and usernames.
- - Explore the difference between knowing someone online and knowing people offline, and apply critical thinking skills when determining what is appropriate to share.
- - Discuss the ability to identify a series of trusted adults who they can go to when they feel unsure or unsafe when using the internet.
For further tips and information, check out the eSafety commission website here.
Mental Health First Aid Training
This term, Morgan and I completed our Mental Health First Aid Certification. We were given greater insight in how to identify the early warning signs for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, trauma, substance use and suicidal thoughts and behaviours. We learned a thorough process to approach, assess and provide students with further resources and information to support these mental health concerns.
We look forward to sharing our learning with staff to ensure they feel confident to respond to students and that students are well supported with their mental health needs.
Body Image workshop for parents/carers
Please see below the details for a parent/carer session with our partnering program on promoting positive body image and body confidence. Topics covered in Butterfly Foundation's Body Confident Children and Teen webinar include:
- Body image influences
- The role of body image in problematic eating and exercise behaviours
- How to positively role model
- Responding to appearance talk and appearance-teasing
- What to do if concerned.
17th October 7 - 8.15pm (AEDT) via Zoom
Register on the link below:
Nicola Smith - Assistant Principal/Wellbeing Coordinator
Morgan Ili - Inclusion Coordinator