Student Wellbeing
Buddy Classes
This year we decided to re-introduce our Buddy Classes.
We paired year levels together
- Year 5 and Year 1
- Year 6 and Prep
- Year 4 & Year 2
- Year 3 & Year 1
The classes decide when they will meet up and the short sessions can be as simple as a shared lunch, reading to each other, hearing reading, Maths games, STREAM activities etc.
Thank you to Yr. 2F & Yr. 4G for their report on their recent session together.
2F and 4G met after Grandparent’s Day and we read to each other. Some of the books we read were: Dear Dumb Diary, Goosebumps, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Minions 3 and The Treasure of the Sea. We love that we have someone to talk to or play with at recess and lunch. We have also met our buddies for snack and lunch catch ups. We get to talk about basketball, funny stories, jokes and the upcoming Lion King Junior concert. We can’t wait to see them again soon.
Friendship Groups
You may have noticed many posters displayed around the school and in the classrooms recently.
They have the heading ‘Stress Management Wheel’
These were made at our recent ‘Friendship Group’ session.
Our focus for the session was
STRESS MANAGEMENT
Learning Intention:
We are learning the role of self-calming and self-control in managing our daily challenges.
Success Criteria:
I can identify the things that can cause stress for me.
I can identify that there are a range of strategies that can be used to help deal
with strong emotions.
I can practise strategies for calming and coping when I am upset.
Stress is a normal part of life, especially as children get older. Children who cope better with life’s stressors develop good mental health and wellbeing.
Assisting students recognise their personal signs and symptoms of stress and to develop strategies that will help them to deal with those effectively, will help them cope with challenges in the future.
When we are stressed we may feel different emotions.
We can feel angry, frustrated, scared, afraid, anxious, inadequate or overwhelmed. Sometimes this can give us a stomach ache or a headache, we may feel grumpy or teary, or have trouble paying attention at school and remembering things at home.
Everyone experiences stress at some time. But there are also many different ways that people help themselves when they feel stressed.
We call these coping strategies.
We looked at some of the strategies we use to help us cope with feeling angry.
We talked about examples for each area of stress:
• Something is hard (e.g. having a test at school in a subject you don’t feel very good at)
• Something is new (e.g. going in the school swimming sports for the very first time)
• Something is scary (e.g. having to have an injection or going down the giant slide)
• We have too much to do (e.g. clean your bedroom, do your homework, and feed the dog all before you can go out to play with your friend).
Each group then designed their own ‘Stress Management Wheel’ using what they use to help them manage their stresses.
Take a look at them – I am sure they will benefit you too.
Julianne Price
Student Wellbeing /Student Services Leader
Ph. 96992928