Celebrating Our Karoo Community

Gardening Club

Gardening Club has commenced at Karoo PS this term. It has started due to students in Year 2 advocating for making our school a better place to learn and play. According to the Garden Club Leader, Christian Lees:

'In Gardening Club we do weeding, pick up rubbish and clean up itchy bombs that fall on the ground. We work together to achieve our goal of making the school a better place for all the students, teachers and parents. I really enjoy being the leader of the group'

What a fantastic effort from this group of students! Keep up the great work!

Circle Time Professional Learning with Staff

Our Karoo Teaching Staff engaged in further learning regarding Circle Time and how to use this practice to support our students social and emotional development.

Circle Time is a strategy used to encourage unity, respect, turn-talking and working together towards a shared vision.

It is used to help develop positive relationships between children and aims to give them tools to engage with and listen to each other. The emphasis is placed on the engagement and participation from students and the Circle Time strategy is used to address issues and celebrate successes in a classroom.

This professional learning by staff on Circle Time will be used with students to support them further in understanding how they are feeling and strategies to self regulate, as we move into the end of a busy year.

Attendance

A reminder that if your child and your family are planning to go on an extended absence this term, please ensure that you contact our principal, Danielle Heatley, at least 1 month prior to the absence. This is so that a Student Absence Plan can be developed to support your child's learning, as their absence may have an impact on their learning and overall growth.

Wellbeing @ Karoo PS in 2023

In 2023, in addition to the number of programs and initiatives already in operation, Karoo PS will continue to offer the following supports for our students health and wellbeing:

Wellbeing Groups. These groups will be focusing on the following areas:

* 'Let's talk about Worry and Anxiety'

* 'Let's talk about Social Skills'

* 'Let's talk about Growth Mindset' (introduced in Term 2)

The Wellbeing Groups are held once a week, with small group of selected students, who would like to build their skills in the focus areas. The groups are run by a trained facilitator and address a number of key learning areas to support student wellbeing.

If you would like to find out more about the groups or nominate your child to be part of the groups in 2023, then please don't hesitate to contact the school or myself at Courtney.Hoffmann@education.vic.gov.au.

Onpsych Services

At Karoo PS we always strive to support our students health and wellbeing and as a result, we will be re-establishing our relationship with OnPsych in 2023. OnPsych are a team of experienced, qualified, registered and accredited psychologists and mental health social workers who specialise in child and adolescent services. They work in individual and group sessions with students and in most cases the services are performed at no out of pocket cost, through Medicare and the development of a Mental Health Plan with your GP. The services are also provided on site for easy access.

OnPsych psychologists and mental health social workers work primarily from an early intervention model, with the students and families. They aim to work with children requiring further support in areas such as anxiety, social skills, Autism, attention deficits, emotion de-regulation, behavioural issues and more.

OnPsych works at the school in collaboration with existing school-based services. This enhances followed up and provision of strategies to teachers and support staff which ultimately supports the student and their families.

OnPsych aims to assist young people, their families and teachers to:

Become more self-confident and feeling in control of their world.
Shift from feeling overwhelmed, stressed and vulnerable.
Make more useful decisions to support their life choices within their peer and community networks.
Take more positive initiatives.
Become more personally resourceful.

Progress is generally reflected in:

Improved social skills and clearer communication.
Enhanced realistic thinking.
Healthier coping mechanisms.
Stronger positive attitudes and self-assurance.
Improved social interactions, school performance and less truancy.
Reduced visits to Medical Practitioners for mental health issues.

If you would like to find out more about the OnPsych services or discuss further how your child could be part of the program in 2023, then please don't hesitate to contact the school or myself at Courtney.Hoffmann@education.vic.gov.au

Kind Regards,

Courtney Hoffmann

Wellbeing and Inclusion Leading Teacher

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