RIPPONLEA PRIMARY SCHOOL

Wellbeing & Self Care 

STAYING SAFE AT HOME

Where our thoughts are currently consumed by the health crisis in Victoria along with juggling parenting responsibilities, keeping up with our work commitments, looking after our wellbeing AND supporting our children with remote and flexible learning, it would be of no surprise if we forget to also think about other matters of importance.

 

With so many of us spending more time in our homes, this is a good opportunity for families to review what to do in the event of an emergency. The last thing we wish to do as parents is raise anxieties by talking about emergencies; however, we do know of course that planning ahead and knowing what to do is key to staying safe in the event of an emergency.

 

Here are some great resources which may be of help for families:

 

- VicEmergency gives Victorians emergency information and warnings. You can set watch zones for your local area(s) and also access preparedness and recovering information. Visit https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/ for more detail or download the VicEmergency app.

 

- The Emergency Preparedness website, a collaboration of metropolitan Melbourne councils and emergency services, has a suite of resources for understanding the risks associated with emergencies and how to prepare yourself and your family. Visit https://emergencyprepare.com.au/ for lots of information on a range of situations.

 

- Lastly, http://kids.triplezero.gov.au/ is a kid-friendly resource designed for children from kindergarten to primary school. It involves a game consisting of twelve safety scenarios. The website also offers resources packs for parents and teachers.

RIPPONLEA CREATIVITY DAY

Every Wednesday during Ripponlea remote learning 2.0 is Creativity Day. Students are engaging in activities that allow them to connect, collaborate, create, dream, observe, play, investigate and ‘be’. We encourage all students to really embrace the creativity matrix that was sent out by teachers and enjoy the rich and rewarding time spent with family, friends and self. All tasks relate to different areas of the curriculum including numeracy, literacy and creative thinking. We would like to thank Miss Rebecca in collating these creative and tech-free activities. 

MAKE YOURSELF A PRIORITY

Mental health and wellbeing is vitally important to our happiness. Often wellbeing is missed or even forgotten due to busy schedules, but it is time to take a step back and look after ourselves and each other. Remember it does not always need to be a big action or even take up a lot of our time, just enough to make a difference. Below we have some go-to wellbeing and self-care strategies from RPS staff:

  • Walks in nature/ with pet
  • Bringing nature into the home
  • Long bath/ hot showers
  • Turning the tap to cold at the end of the shower to wake you up
  • Candles/ incense
  • 'Chill' playlist on Spotify
  • Boardgames/card games/family activity/puzzles
  • Reading
  • Creating a self-care plan or routine
  • Yoga/stretching or exercise
  • Connecting with others
  • Taking notices of things around you - eg. having a look at flowers on your walk, looking at houses in your street and talking about what you like about them
  • Give compliments to others
  • Star gazing/ cloud watching
  • Talk about positive things
  • Painting a picture/ being creative
  • Checking on a friend and offering your support
  • Podcasts
  • Take a nap
  • Bake/ cook a family favourite or something new
  • Wear an outfit that makes you feel great; you don't need any reason because you are the reason!

TAKE A BREAK

Need a break or some time away from the computer or desk? Get in a routine of taking scheduled breaks where you can separate your mind from your current task and come back fresh. Here are some options that can assist.