Assistant Principal's Report

Student Leaders

In this fortnight’s leadership session our student leaders took a deep dive into our school value of RESPECT. At Whitehorse Primary School we show respect for ourselves, respect for others and respect for our school. Our student leaders reflected on what respect means to them individually, adding their thoughts to a post it note which were then shared with the group. Once we had a shared understanding of ‘respect’ leaders then worked in groups to consider what respect feels like, looks like and sounds like at our school through a Y chart task.

Respect can be shown through kindness, listening, understanding, being considerate and non judgemental, keeping our hands and feet to ourselves, looking after our school facilities, caring for our environment and more! Our student leaders are looking forward to working with students in the school to teach them more about how we can show respect at Whitehorse.

I am mindful

This Friday students participating in the I am Mindful program will have their last session with Stephanie. Through I am Mindful, students have been learning coping skills for when they are in the ‘red zone’when they are feeling angry, mad or frustrated or the ‘yellow zone’ when they are feeling nervous, anxious or overwhelmed. Part of this program is also teaching students to recognise when their friends, peers or family members need help to regulate their emotions and using taught strategies to support them.

The I am mindful program teaches us to use our coping skills to

Avoid making things worse
Keep relationships
Make healthy choices

This is done through sensory modulation- calming down the body when experiencing ‘big feelings’. Students have been taught to use tools such as squishy toys, breathing techniques, word searches, kinetic sand etc to help them to calm their body first before talking through their thoughts and feelings. There is a calm down kit in the Assistant Principal office which students across the school have been able to use when they feel overwhelmed and need support to regulate their emotions and become ready for learning again.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Megan Goldenberg

Acting Assistant Principal