Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

Here we are again at this unique time of the year. We are celebrating the wonderful things that have happened during the year with students completing final work tasks, sitting exams, planning end of year activities and, just around the corner, is the launch of Headstart, the commencement of the 2020 school year.

It is also a big time of change for us in the Wellbeing Team. We will be farewelling Lana Paten, School Chaplain and counsellor, who has been an extremely valued member of the team over the past 5 years . Lana will be greatly missed by staff, students and families at the College who have got to know her and appreciate her generous wellbeing support over her years of service. Lana always has the wellbeing of the students at the core of her work and she will be greatly missed. We wish Lana all the best for whatever new adventures lie ahead.

In response to our increasing student numbers and new mental health initiatives we have welcomed 3 new members to the Wellbeing Team over the past term, which has been wonderful. Katie Haywood, our Youth Worker, will have a key focus on implementing preventative and early intervention programs. Katie has already been active, facilitating a girls' lunchtime group, assisting Lana with the ever growing Breakfast Club and welcoming our new students with a pizza lunch.

We also welcomed Carly Schreiber to the team. Carly is a Secondary School Nurse with a key focus on Adolescent Health. Carly worked together with Katie to re-launch the Respect Group at the College. This group is open to all students across the College who are passionate about supporting a Safe School for all students with a targeted focus on supporting the LGBTIQ students.

Annette Matov is the other team member we have welcomed this term. Annette is our Mental Health Practioner – Social Worker at the College. The Mental Health Practioner position is an initiative by the State Government addressing mental health needs of our young people and we were fortunate to be one of the first school networks to have the program implemented. One of Annette’s first tasks was to implement the Healing Hearts with Art program working in partnership with art therapist Brigitte. This program was offered to selected students in Year 7-9 and the feedback so far is that they are loving the opportunity and it is providing support to their wellbeing. We hope to be able to continue the program next year.

Reflecting on the year I am reminded of the many different activities that were implemented to support all students to feel safe, connected and happy at school. One of the recent big events was Mental Health Week during the first week of Term 4. The focus of the week was We all Belong. It was a week full of lunchtime activities, hundreds of gerberas delivered to friends with appreciative notes, being energised with zumba, naming our strengths on the wall art and welcoming Headspace and Kingston Youth Services to share their resources with the school.

We were thankful again this year for the awesome job the Year 10 Peer Support Leaders did meeting with the Year 7s in their Home Group times. They contributed to helping the Year 7s feel a bit more relaxed about their big leap into secondary school. We are about to train a new group of Peer Support Leaders who will be meeting with some of the 2020 Year 7s. We have some additional transition days planned for these students who are the only ones coming from their primary school or may be feeling a bit anxious about commencing Year 7. This will be a great opportunity to have fun and build some friendships across the College. We have facilitated this program over the past few years and it has proven to be a very valued opportunity to support students at a time of change.

There are many times also throughout the year when students and families may require some additional support in challenging times. It has been a privilege for the wellbeing team to be involved at these times. We have also valued the support of external agencies working with us including Engage 1on1 Psychological Services, Headspace, Taskforce and KYS.

If you would like to discuss any of the wellbeing programs at the College or how to link your child into the wellbeing support available, please contact Reception and ask to speak to a member of the Wellbeing Team.

As we celebrate all the good things that have taken place in 2019 we also look forward to continuing to ensure Mordialloc College is a safe and respectful place for all students in 2020.

While still a number of weeks away I wish everyone a wonderful, enjoyable and relaxing time in the holidays.

On behalf of the Wellbeing Team

Di Douglas

College News

Issue 35 · 15 Nov 2019

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