Office News Items

From the Front Office

Remote Learning Survey for Families

Thank you to the families who have completed our remote learning survey so far. We will keep the survey open for submissions until Wednesday, 2nd September. If you would like to take part, please use the above link to access the survey questions. We value your opinion and once again thank you all for your continued support.

Attitudes to School Survey 2020 - Grades 4 - 6

Each year we participate in the Attitudes to School Survey (AtoSS) for the Department of Education. The survey is for students from Grades 4 to 6 and is conducted over the period of Monday 7th September to Friday 11th September.

About the survey

We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and are conducting a survey to find out what your child thinks of our school.

This year, the survey also includes some questions about student health and wellbeing and student perceptions of COVID-19.Understanding health and wellbeing needs has always been important, but especially so this year, and the Department is providing this survey to allow schools to capture this information to support students. Students will be asked about their thoughts and feelings in relation to their school, family, friends, health (including mental health) and wellbeing, and bullying.

What are the risks?

While we do not anticipate many risks of participation, some students may find the survey questions to be more personal and sensitive in nature this year. Should you agree for your child to participate, they are still free to skip questions or to withdraw at any stage if the survey makes them upset or uncomfortable.

What are the benefits?

In our experience, the majority of young people enjoy having the chance to have their say. At SMPS, we will use the survey results to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience.

Options for participation

Participation in this survey is voluntary. If you do not wish for your child to do the survey, please opt out via email to the school: south.melbourne.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Please do so before Friday 4th September, stating that you wish to opt out of your child’s participation, along with their name, school and year level. If we do not receive a Refusal of Consent email from yourself before the survey commencement date, it means that you give your consent for your child to participate in the 2020 Attitudes to School Survey.

A copy of the survey that we are asking your child to complete is available if you would like to read through the questions. Please contact the school office - 9935 9399, if you would like to see the survey before making your decision about whether you would like your child to participate.

Apps for Wellbeing

An SMPS parent recently shared a list of useful apps that she has tried and tested in the area of mental health and wellbeing. Some of these are child focused and others are specifically for parents. If you have used any of these before and found them useful, I would be interested in hearing from you. You can email me any feedback at anthony.douglas@southmelbourneps.vic.edu.au

iCBT	CBT based psychoeducation, activity and tools (around $10)
SAM (self-help for anxiety management)	Anxiety management tools
MoodKit	comprehensive CBT app created by 2 clinical psychologists and provides tools and strategies, a journal and mood log. (between $8-10)
Mood Mission	CBT based activities and tools to manage low mood
Stop Breathe and Think	CBT based stress and anxiety interventions and activities. (subscription based)
Reach Out Worry Time	For stress and anxiety management tools
Beyond Now	A suicide safety planning an intervention app for those needing support in this area
Mental Stillness	Offers guided meditations
Insight Timer	A meditation app that offers access to many meditation teachers to you can find what works best for your practices.
MindMum	Support app for mothers consistent with their online program
Mindfulness: Being Human	Mindfulness based app with education and guided practices. (approx. $6 to download)
The Breathe Kids app	Mindfulness and emotional awareness for kids.
Dreamy Kids	Mindfulness based programs ($4 per program)
The Compassionate Parent	Mood and Anxiety tools for new parents based on mindfulness CBT and positive psychology ($4.49 to download)

Raffle Winners

We would love to thank each and every one of you who donated prizes and purchased raffle tickets over the last month. All money donated will go towards purchasing outdoor activities including line markings.

Thank you also to those students and parents who tuned into the live draw of the winners on Friday 28th August at 2:30pm.

The winners are listed below:

Lego Friends (worth $30) = Denise Ortiz Masalan (Tomas 1C)
Child’s basketball and pump = Macy Chan (Blake 3/4B)
Selection of children’s activities puzzles and games = Gina Lee (Gavin 5)
Shell Art's and Craft = Anna Ungkhunchai (Abigail 2D)
Craft Book = Sreejith Kolakara (Diya 0A)
Ooshies XL Pack - 4 boxes available =
1. Garth Chenery (Belle 1E)
2. Sara Tai (Riley 1B)
3. Jing Han (Allan 2D)
4. Kylie Campbell (Michael 1E)
Large Buzz Lightyear Ooshie = Jaya Laxmi Panja (Lakshyan 0D)
Dino Just add water - Gelli Worlds = Lakmali Pattison (Sierra 2C)
Handbag -Best friend furry pack = Anna Ungkhunchai (Abigail 2D)
Boxed Worrier - 6 available =
1. Rikke Maycella (Mikhayla 0B)
2. Yifan Xu (Byron 0C)
3. Snehal Sagane (Rishva 3/4C)
4. Lakmali Pattison (Sierra 2C)
5. Keyur Shah (Shanaya 2C)
6. Ada De Poister (Tyler 1E)
SMPS Coloured Keep Cup - 1 available = Li Ju (Byron 0C)
$50 Wish Gift Card (Woolworths, Big W etc) - 3 Available
1. Ada De Poister (Tyler 1E)
2. Fenny Shah (Zoey 2D)
3. Nilesh Agrawal (Meet 0E)
Young Engineers Class – 3 week pass valued at $70 = Sidharth Sahu (Avika 1A)

Please note that we are unable to distribute the prizes due to the current restrictions however we will keep the gifts safe in the mean time and look forward to the day we can share these gifts to those lucky winners.