Hi everyone, we have a great Wellbeing Team at Woori, with Sally and myself, we can help with any parenting worries or support you with home or family concerns. The Wellbeing Team are available before and after school duty and we can help with any questions or queries you may have.

This past fortnight, Sally and I have been setting children up for transitions into 2025. We’ve had many conversations to support student nerves especially going up a grade or moving onto secondary school.

As a parent, you can gain so much insight into how your child is feeling about their future grades and how you can best support them with a smooth transition.

For parents and carers dealing with these conversations at home, it’s important that kids know what to expect, feel prepared and are given plenty of support throughout the process. Share your experiences about when you changed grades or started high school. What were some of your worries and how did you resolve these concerns.

Here are some tips to help you make it a smooth transition for Step Up Day and starting back in 2025.

Speak positively about the change

Kids tend to pick up on their parents’ attitude towards change, so if your child senses that you’re feeling anxious about the school transition, they may begin to mirror those emotions. So even if you don’t think your child is listening, you should always try to discuss the changes in a positive way.

When you talk about going up a grade or school transition, whether it’s with your child directly or with friends and family, try to speak enthusiastically and focus on the positives, such as the interesting things they will learn, the new friends they will make and the new routines they’ll establish.

Acknowledge and talk through your child’s concerns

If your child has questions or concerns, rather than brushing them off with a “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine,” it’s important to acknowledge their concerns. Once you know what your child is feeling most anxious about, you can spend some time going over the details, whether that means discussing how they’ll get to and from school or explaining what their new schedule will be like.

We are all going through this transition period together so please speak to Sally and me if you are interested in further support.

Woori Gift Giving Tree & Hamper Community Appeal

Before the school year winds up, we are again inviting families to join us in making this Christmas one filled with joy and happiness for families in our community. Sally and I have been planning for our annual Christmas Gift Giving Tree and Christmas hamper drive. Already we have received many donations, so a big thank you to families for thinking about us. Next week, Sally will set up our Gift Giving Tree and hamper box down at the community pantry (in the main building entry for the grade 1 and grade 2 area).

In the past, our families have given generously, so please pop an extra item in your trolley when you are shopping. This time of year, it’s nice to pay it forward and also to think about those people less fortunate than us. These small gestures really do help our families have an extra special Christmas. Thank you!

Across the week we have several opportunities for students to feel supported with their friendships whether it’s during break times out in the yard/electives or speaking to our welfare team. If you have any questions or are looking for tips, please speak to staff. We really hope your children come home from school happy to talk and share their day with you.

Second Hand Uniform

For parents looking to purchase second hand uniform you can contact the Wellbeing Team any time, Monday through to Friday. We are happy to make up bags (providing we have the stock) if parents cannot get to the school for our sales.

For any enquiries, please email the Wellbeing Team at

Andre.Campbell@education.vic.gov.au

Sally.Marshall@education.vic.gov.au

Head Lice

This fortnight, we have had only 1 report of live head lice in the school. We ask parents to work with us to keep our reports low and to continue to treat and monitor your children’s hair. Please notify the office or tell your child’s teacher when you treat your child so lice alert notes can be issued on COMPASS. Reminder-any child found with live lice will be excluded from school until they are treated.

Wellbeing Service Support

Uniting Child & Family Wellbeing Program, Wednesdays

On Wednesdays, we have Alissa Bayliff from the Family Wellbeing program at Uniting in the school. Alissa is happy to talk to parents about any potential concerns or behaviours with their children. Also, Alissa can support families with parenting strategies and service referrals including family services and online resources for parents. The referral process is straight forward, and Uniting can engage within a reasonable time.

Parents can email Alissa directly at

alissa.bayliff@vt.uniting.org

or contact the Wellbeing Team and we will take you through the steps.

Health Update

It’s nice to say that we’ve had a regular fortnight regarding illness in the school. I’ve had a report of gastro which has struck the whole family. In previous years we always seem to have a gastro outbreak at this time of year. I always say it’s when the flies come out, and I’ve noticed so do rumbly tummies. We are aware that hay fever and colds are impacting some students. The tropical weather we’ve recently experienced may also affect some students, especially those who are asthmatic. Please make sure your child has their medication and puffers at school.

Remember, we do have Maddie, our school nurse working in sick bay Monday, Tuesday & Friday, parents can speak to Maddie about any health concerns. I encourage parents to please investigate any potential sickness complaints.

Please encourage your child to practise good personal hygiene by washing hands regularly. It isn’t fun to be sick at school and there are exclusion periods for some health conditions. Don’t forget to tell us of any phone or emergency contact changes so we can reduce your child’s concern if they need to be picked up. In case of a toileting accident please supply a change of underwear in your child’s bag.

Infectious Diseases

To help prevent and control the transmission of infectious diseases in schools, a child must be excluded from school if he or she has any of the following:

Gastro/Diarrhoea - until there has not been a loose bowel motion or any symptoms for 48 hours.
Chicken Pox - until fully recovered and blisters have dried.
Measles - at least 7 days.
German Measles - until fully recovered and at least 4 days from the onset of rash.
Whooping Cough - four weeks.
Hand, foot and mouth - until all blisters have dried.
Hepatitis - medical certificate needed.
Impetigo “School Sores” - until treatment has commenced and sores are healed.
Ringworm - until treatment has commenced. Medical certificate may be required.
Mumps - until fully recovered.
Scabies - medical certificate needed.

Importantly, children who have been vomiting should not attend school until 48 hours after the vomiting ceases.

While these are some common diseases, please refer to the Better Health School Exclusion Table* for a comprehensive list and updated information. Please contact the office if your child contracts any of these. Please refer to the Dept of Health for further information

https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/school-exclusion-table

Activities at Recess and Lunchtime

If your child is looking to make friends, have some fun and be creative, tell them they can come to the activity clubs. The clubs run in the main building outside the specialist classrooms and also in the library. The students are enjoying making key chains, bracelets, fidgets and cats eyes, turtles, finger knitting, bookmarks as well as create some amazing Lego builds. Shortly we will begin our Christmas craft activities.

Craft is always looking for donations, especially wool, crochet hooks, craft/haberdashery items and Lego. If you are having a clean out, please feel free to bring your items to the office/wellbeing office.

Activity	Recess	Lunchtime
Monday	Yarn activities, jigsaws, fidgets & colouring	Lego club & sewing club
Tuesday	Yarn activities, jigsaws, fidgets & colouring	Diamond Art club
Wednesday	Yarn activities, jigsaws, fidgets & colouring	Diamond Art club
Thursday	Yarn activities, jigsaws, fidgets & colouring	Lego club & sewing club

Attendance Data-It’s Cool to be at School!

This past fortnight we have celebrated 4 out of 6 students who came to school on their special day. When your child comes to school and it’s their birthday, we are bringing the buzz to make their day even more special. When they arrive at school in the mornings, we are presenting them with a special birthday sticker badge. I must say the kids are really loving this!

Over the time a child attends school, having 1- or 2-days absence does not seem like much but it does add up and can impact on missed learning opportunities.

Chaplain Requests

The Department of Education has made some changes to the National Student Wellbeing Program in schools. For parents and carers interested, you need to sign a consent form for the chaplain to see your child. Sally is available on Mondays and Wednesdays. If you are interested in your child to see Sally, please email Sally at

Sally.Marshall@education.vic.gov.au

Chaplain Chat

Kids need to know that they are loved. Knowing that they are loved fills them with self-worth. Have a think about how you express love to your child. Do you give them things, do things for them, give them lots of cuddles, say encouraging words or spend quality time with them? Chances are you do some of these things at some point or another during the week. It’s always to good to reflect on your parenting to see if you are reaching your child heart in a positive way, are you showing them love in a way that they understand?

One way to show your kids you love them is to show interest in their interests, go and watch them play their sports, join them when they are doing an activity at home. A friend of mine has a daughter who is interested in bird watching, her daughter knows she is supported and loved because her mum takes the time to find places to watch birds and then spends the time with her watching birds. These kinds of activities create long lasting memories, which in the end is all we will have when they are all grown up.

Gift Giving Tree

We will build our tree next week to start our Christmas celebrations. We have been overwhelmed with how many gifts we have been given in support of our Christmas gift giving. Thank you to those families who have donated. We will start handing out the gifts very soon.

Kids of Gold Camp

The next Kids of Gold Camp will be held from Fri 7th to Sun 9th February 2025.

This camp is for building self-esteem and confidence in Grades 4-6 children and is designed to be able to help all to attend at a very reasonable fee of $85 per camper. Grade 3s going into Grade 4 in 2025 are eligible, as well as Year 6s going into Year 7 in 2025.

Although this is primarily a Level 2 camp, there are a limited number of applicants who will be accepted even though they have not yet done their 1st level.

Breakfast Club

We will continue to serve toast, cereal and baked beans at breakfast club for the remainder of the year on Monday and Wednesday mornings.

Food Pantry

The food pantry will remain open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons between 2:30 and 3:30pm. For the remainder of the year. We are currently contacting families to see if they would like a food hamper to help them over the Christmas break. If you would like a hamper, please get in contact with the Wellbeing Team so we can order them before Foodbank orders close.

Chaplaincy

Sally Marshall – Chaplain, is happy to catch up with your child if you feel they need that extra emotional support during school hours. Sally is available on Monday and Wednesday’s and can be contacted via email

sally.marshall@education.vic.gov.au

or by phone call 5964 7258.

Have a fantastic week.