Wellbeing News

Wellbeing committee meetings 

The wellbeing committee has been working hard on an art project to celebrate Harmony Day. We aim for this to be a celebration of all the wonderful cultures at Cranbourne Secondary College and to promote harmony and unity within the school. We look forward to revealing the finished product.

We would also like to congratulate the 3 new wellbeing student leaders on their roles. Our leaders have jumped straight into meetings and planning and have shown great enthusiasm and dedication in working towards wellbeing committee initiatives. 

CoRE Program

Throughout term one, twelve year 10 students have been engaged in the CoRE program (connected, resilient, engaged), run by the Blue Light foundation. Last Wednesday, these students went on an excursion to United African Farm, which was an enriching experience for all the students. The day began with hands-on activities, where students helped plant banana trees and worked across the farm. They also listened to inspiring stories, involving drums and singing, from three African women who had survived a civil war and found a new life in Australia, which left a deep impact on everyone, focusing on gratitude, family, and community. The students also listened to a valuable speech on gambling awareness, presented by Better Help. We were also introduced to the two farm dogs (Border Collies), who were very popular with the students. A delicious lunch followed, providing a chance for everyone to reflect on the day’s experiences. All the students ended the day feeling inspired and connected. We express our gratitude towards the United African Farm for providing our students with a unique, meaningful, and fun experience that each will remember fondly. 

Chilled – Year 11 Group Program

The students are starting to consolidate the skills we have learned over the previous 5 weeks, focusing on cognitive restructuring, graded exposure and relaxation skills. These are evidence-based strategies for addressing and reducing anxiety. The students have started creating personalised stepladders aimed at exposing themselves to anxiety-provoking experiences in small, manageable steps. The purpose of this activity is to encourage students to face their fears, thereby giving them the opportunity to learn that they can cope with the situations that worry them, and that those situations may not be as bad as they fear.  

Canine Comprehension – Year 9

The focus this term has been on relaxation and rejuvenation, an ideal topic following an intense morning one week, where the Year 9 students had NAPLAN. The group discussed ways in which therapy dog Marle relaxes, and the things that bring her joy. The group then shared their own ideas for relaxation strategies and activities they enjoy. Exercise, fresh air, outdoors, and nature were discussed as relaxation strategies. The group took Marle outside for a walk and identified strategies she uses to regulate. Finally, the students engaged in a dog toy making activity and discussed Marle’s non-verbal communication cues.