Branch Out

Woodend Primary School were lucky enough, along with Kyneton PS, to be two schools out of fifteen that had applied to be part of the pilot program last year. We took part in consultation with teacher working groups, parent online forums and discussions with students within our school. After months and months of the consultation process, Branch Out was created. It  is a program to build capacity in supporting children and youth mental health. 

Last night we were so excited to launch Branch Out to our school community, in a teacher workshop facilitated by Dr Christiane Kehoe and then followed by a parent workshop facilitated by Professor Sophie Havinghurst. Both clinicians are part of the program of Tuning into Kids. 

During these workshops there were many themes that were addressed. Highly valued learning was present during this time with learning how to manage emotions and respond effectively. 

Key themes were:

• Learn about emotional intelligence and how it develops
• Learn about child and adolescent emotional development
• Learn about Emotion Coaching – how and why it works
• Learn to use Emotion Coaching into your parenting, relationships and teaching
• Consider how to manage emotions when parenting and teaching

The workshop was also an opportunity to build connections with others who were there, with an ice breaker activity followed by reading scripts that were presented with scenarios of emotion coaching and emotion dismissing. Thank you for being open and being vulnerable.

Continuing with Branch Out in two weeks time the Senior Unit students will be participating in a workshop facilitated by local theatre group, Sprouts, where they will explore emotions and be able to build on mental health literacy.

Thank you to Dr Kehoe and Professor Havinghurst from Tuning into Kids for their sharing of expert knowledge. Thank you also to Liz Austin from Youth Services at Macedon Ranges Shire Council for organising this great event for our community. 

I look forward to sharing more information and resources very soon about Branch Out. Of course I can’t go by without thanking those who took time out of their busy schedules to take the first step tonight in having a deeper understanding of positive mental health. 

If you have any more questions please don’t hesitate to contact me. 

If you are interested in a Branch Out notebook please grab one from the office.

Kylie Minchew 

Leading Teacher- Inclusion, Learning and Engagement