Student Services : Wellbeing 

We are here to support you

Welcome back to staff, students, and parents from all of us in the student wellbeing team. We hope you had an enjoyable and relaxing break. With a new school year brings the excitement of catching up with friends again and new things to be learnt, for some it is often a period filled with anxiety or feeling of something being not quite right. This is where the student wellbeing team comes in, we are here to provide the support you need whether a quiet place to chill out or someone to talk to. If this sounds like something you need, come join us anytime in the Wellbeing Room (M11). 

Introducing our team: 

• Leanne Petroff: Head of Student Services. Ms Petroff is a counsellor and also teaches English.
• Katherine Brissett: Mental Health Practitioner. Kat is a social worker and provides support to students who have mild to moderate wellbeing needs across all year levels.
• Sabatinie Balasooriya: Student Wellbeing Coordinator for Year levels 9,10, and 11. 
• Megan Simmons: Student Wellbeing Coordinator for Year levels 7,8, and 12. 
• Ella Hunter: Student Social Worker
• We will also be getting a new school nurse this term

If accessing helpful information online is more your style, there are some great resources available including, Feeling It which is a collaboration between Smiling Mind and the Department of Education. Other tips for managing mental health include:

• Eating healthy and nutrient-dense foods. 
• Exercising and moving your body. 
• Getting enough sleep (8-10 hours)
• Looking at the things that you are grateful for each day. (No matter how small it is)
• Do something that you find fun e.g., read a book, play a game etc...
• Spend time with friends and family. 

Chill skills coming soon

In Term 1 the Student Wellbeing team are running a program called Chill Skills for year 9s. Chill skills is a 6-week program that has three clear aims, to help recognise when we are anxious, to find skills and strategies to help when we are feeling anxious and long-term strategies and skills that we can help to build confidence and better manage our anxiety. 

If you are a student or a parent of a student who think may benefit from this program, please send your expression of interest through this form by 14 February.