Student Welbeing

Whole School Breakfast Club

We are excited to announce that on Thursday 2 May, Student Services with members of our school community, will host another Whole School Breakfast Club! We believe that a nutritious breakfast is essential for a successful day of learning, and we are committed to providing a welcoming and nourishing environment for all our students.

Why Join the Breakfast Club?

Healthy Start: Start your day with a nutritious meal that will fuel your body and mind for learning.

Socialise: Connect with friends and teachers in a relaxed atmosphere before the school day begins.

Variety: Enjoy a variety of delicious breakfast options, including fresh fruits, whole grains, and protein-rich foods.

Convenience: Skip the morning rush and enjoy a stress-free meal on campus.

Free for All: The Breakfast Club is open to all students, free of charge!

Event Details:

Location: In front of the canteen area.

Time: 7:45am to 8:45am

Understanding the Spectrum of School Avoidance Behaviour

As we navigate the complexities of education, it's essential to address a concerning issue: school avoidance behaviour. In Australia, recent data highlights the prevalence and impact of school avoidance behaviour. According to a study by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, approximately 7-9% of Australian children experience significant school refusal at some point during their school years. Research published in the Australian Journal of Education indicates that school avoidance behaviour is associated with increased risk of academic underachievement, social difficulties, and mental health concerns. Further, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics underscores the importance of early intervention, showing that school avoidance behaviour can have long-term consequences on educational attainment and employment prospects.

While occasional reluctance to attend school is common among adolescence, persistent avoidance can indicate deeper underlying issues. Understanding the spectrum and signs of school avoidance behaviour is crucial for effective intervention and support.

The Spectrum of School Avoidance Behaviour

School avoidance behaviour exists on a spectrum, ranging from mild reluctance to severe refusal. It's essential to recognise that each young person’s experience is unique, and factors contributing to avoidance can vary widely. Here's a breakdown of the spectrum:

Mild Reluctance: Occasional complaints about going to school, often tied to specific stressors like tests or social situations.

Moderate Avoidance: Increased frequency of complaints or physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches, leading to occasional missed days.

Severe Refusal: Persistent and intense refusal to attend school, accompanied by significant distress and impairment in daily functioning.

Signs of School Avoidance Behaviour

Recognising the signs of school avoidance behaviour is crucial for early intervention.

Here are some indicators to watch for:

Physical Symptoms: Complaints of headaches, stomach aches, nausea, or other unexplained physical ailments, especially in the mornings before school.

Emotional Distress: Increased anxiety, panic attacks, tearfulness, or moodiness when discussing school or approaching school-related activities.

Behavioural Changes: Withdrawal from social activities, increased irritability, or aggression, especially when school-related topics are brought up.

Academic Decline: Noticeable decline in academic performance, avoidance of homework or school-related tasks, or sudden disinterest in previously enjoyed subjects.

Social Isolation: Withdrawal from peers, reluctance to participate in group activities, or avoidance of social situations related to school.

Excessive Absences: Consistently missing school without valid reasons or frequent requests to stay home.

It's essential to approach school avoidance behaviour with empathy, understanding, and proactive support. By recognising the spectrum and signs of avoidance, you, as parents, can intervene early by collaborating with the Student Services and Coordination teams at Eltham High School, and external mental health professionals. Our objective is to ensure the students are provided with necessary support to overcome challenges and thrive academically and emotionally.

Additional resources:

in Parenting - Education (PiP-Ed) program: The program has developed another free resource, a set of evidence-based parenting guidelines, which is beneficial in supporting both families with students experiencing school refusal. The guidelines contain practical strategies for parents to respond to their child’s school attendance difficulties: https://www.parentingstrategies.net/

Parenting Strategies: These guidelines are a general set of recommendations on how you (as a parent or caregiver) can reduce your child’s risk of school refusal and support their mental health and school engagement if they are having problems with school attendance. 22be58_eb886bb0d7a540a783290ffd76e2cdd5.pdf (parentingstrategies.net)

Tuning in to Teens Parenting Program

Berry Street’s Integrated Family Services team (IFS) is offering the Tuning in to Teens parenting program once more in Term 2. It will run on Wednesdays from 12:00pm – 2:00pm for 6 consecutive weeks, beginning on 15 May 2024 and finishing on 19 June. We are delivering the group online, via Zoom. The group is facilitated by 2 IFS workers, and we will cap the group at approximately 8-10 participants.

For those of you that may be unfamiliar with the group program, here are some key features and benefits:

Interactive evidence-based parenting program developed by child and adolescent psychologists from the University of Melbourne.
Sessions are built around group discussion, activities and some roleplays where caregivers reflect on their parenting and practice the strategy of Emotion Coaching, sharing their experiences with the group.
Supports caregivers to better attune to their teen’s emotions and support them with these through the strategy of Emotion Coaching.
Caregivers to teach their teens how to better manage their emotions.
Can reduce isolation for caregivers through peer support.
Helps to prevent or reduce behaviour problems in teens through a more connected relationship with the caregiver.
Helps promote resilience in teens.

Open House and Edendale Farm Program

Term 2, 2024 Student Expression of Interest

Open House, Edendale Farm and Eltham High school would like to offer the opportunity for 10 Eltham High School students to spend 1 day per week at Edendale farm during Term 2, engaging in activities aimed at building healthy communities, strengthening engagement with education, doing hands-on-learning, improving relationships, achieving goals and having fun.

The program has been fully funded by Nillumbik Council and is a joint partnership between Open House and Edendale Farm and Eltham High and is free of cost to participants. The program runs every Wednesday, periods 2 to 4, across Term 2 (from 24 April – 26 June, 2024).

Student Eligibility Criteria:

Students from Year 9 or 10
Students interested in hands-on learning, gardening, interacting with farm animals, and environmental and health benefits of their local food systems
Students have shown early signs of low motivation, disengagement and/or irregular attendance at school

If you would like to nominate your child to participate in this program, please complete the short EOI form here: https://forms.office.com/r/uVWEPeDt3R

For further questions on the program, please contact Mental Health Practitioner, Anna Jenkins (anna.jenkins@education.vic.gov.au ).

Digital Wellbeing

We consistently offer resources and strategies to support parents in navigating the responsible and effective use of social media for the overall wellbeing of your young people. Student Services wanted to bring your attention to a resource called the Student Wellbeing Hub: studentwellbeinghub.edu.au/parents This resource has a variety of wellbeing topics that can provide you with relevant information, advice, and strategies for supporting your young person’s wellbeing and safety.

As we move closer to the end of Term 1 and the holidays, we wanted to highlight the importance of online safety.

What is online safety?

Online safety is the act of staying safe online with the use of any technological device which has access to the internet.

How can we work together?

As a parent and carer, you have an essential role in guiding your child to protect themselves from online harms and risks. It is imperative that they learn how to have positive online experiences that ensures they can communicate safely with their peers and that this experience does not impact their mental health and wellbeing.

We understand that it can be challenging to keep up with new technologies and applications that allow young people to communicate online. By working together, we can support your child to use technology effectively to connect to others, to have fun safely and to enhance their learning.

Where to start?

If you wanted to information and strategies about cyber safety, please refer to: www.esafety.gov.au/parents. This resource will provide webinars for parents and carers to develop strategies to support and encourage online safety. Moreover, the strategies are centred on ensuring your young person can have a positive experience online and understanding the challenges that can occur. This can be achieved through watching short videos or using one of the family advice sheets to build your capacity to speak to your children about how to be safe online.

Additional Tips from the Student Services team to Promote Digital Wellbeing at home:

Set Boundaries: Establish clear rules about screen time, especially during family meals and before bedtime. Encourage device-free zones in certain areas of your home.
Model Healthy Behaviour: Be a role model for your child. Show them that you can disconnect from your devices when necessary and prioritise face-to-face interactions.
Stay Informed: Stay informed about the apps and websites your child uses. Be aware of the content they're exposed to and have conversations about responsible internet use.
Encourage Physical Activity: Promote physical activities and hobbies that do not involve screens. Help your young person find their passion outside of the digital world.
Mental Health Support: Let your young person know that it's okay to seek help if they're feeling overwhelmed or stressed by digital pressures. We’re here to provide you and your young person with relevant support.

MADELINE GAITANIS, Student Services Leader