Assistant Principal's Report

Helping Your Child Navigate Big Emotions and Big Transitions

The start of a new school year can bring excitement, but it can also bring uncertainty. As parents, it’s natural to want to ease our children’s worries, but in The Hidden Benefits of Your Childs Back-to-School Butterflies, Dr Justin Coulson highlights how these moments of change are powerful opportunities for growth. Instead of rushing to fix their concerns, we can help our children build resilience by slowing things down, listening deeply, and guiding them to process their emotions. Asking thoughtful questions, creating space for open conversations, and encouraging self-reflection all help children develop the emotional awareness they need to navigate challenges with confidence.

At Glen Waverley Primary School, our commitment to The Resilience Project and our Making Better Choices approach reinforces these key skills. Through Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness, and Emotional Literacy (GEM), we teach students how to recognise and regulate emotions, while our behaviour framework helps them make positive choices and develop self-awareness. By fostering authentic connections at school and at home—whether through meaningful conversations, reflective discussions, or shared problem-solving—we can help our children embrace challenges, build resilience, and thrive in the face of change.