Wellbeing Report 

Hi everyone, we have a fantastic Wellbeing Team with Sally, Libby and I. We can help with any parenting worries or support your family with home or family concerns. The Wellbeing Team are on before and after school duty and we can help with any questions or queries you may have. 

We have noticed an improvement that students are dressing to match the weather.  Older students are now asking if they can borrow a jumper for the day. There has been so much sickness lately, we are so pleased to see the kids are rugged up and warm for the day. 

We all know how difficult it can be to be on top of the washing during the cold weather so please let us know if you are needing more uniform. Through the week, Sally and I make up bags to send home to families. If you are needing to purchase any extra clothing items, please email the welfare team. 

The Wellbeing Team are happy to take donations including arts and craft items, wool, Lego, jigsaw puzzles, board games and books.  We are always looking for things to help support our activity clubs that we run at lunchtimes.  We are desperate to get some duplo to help some Prep students.  If you have some duplo that your children no longer use or are having a clean out at home, please keep us in mind. Thank you in advance!

We also accept school uniform donations from families. Some uniforms are used to change children. Currently, we are in desperate need of spare black tracksuit pants sizes from 5-8, socks and boys’ and girls’ underwear.  All parents need to do is drop the bags off at the office and we will collect them.

Lost property is located near the Prep entry door (opposite the German room). All lost property found across the school makes it way here.   At the moment, there are lunchboxes and small containers, drink bottles, jackets and jumpers.  If your child has lost something, please pop down and take a look. 

Across the week we have several opportunities for students to feel supported with their friendships whether it’s during break times out in the yard/electives or speaking to our welfare team.  If you have any questions or are looking for tips, please speak to staff. We really hope your children come home from school happy to talk and share their day with you. 

For any enquiries, please email the Wellbeing Team at-

Andre.Campbell@education.vic.gov.au

Sally.Marshall@education.vic.gov.au

elizabeth.martin3@education.vic.gov.au

Community Pantry Accepts Donations

If parents wish to donate any non-perishable items to our pantry, we are really grateful. The Welfare Team prepare hampers for families in need. We kindly ask our school community, if you are in a position to do so, donations can be dropped off at the school office or placed into our Community Pantry.  Items which will help families include-

• Rice & pasta 

• Pasta sauce

• Tomato/BBQ sauce

• 2-minute noodles

• Stock - liquid/cubes

• Tinned vegetables 

• Cake mixes, pancake mix and jelly

• Muesli bars, biscuits and crackers

• Cooking oil

• Tea, coffee and milo

• Shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, liquid soap, tissues and toilet paper

• Laundry liquid, paper towel, cleaning sprays, sponges and wipes

• Dog and cat food including tinned and dry

Head Lice 

This week we’ve had one case of live head lice in the school. Great job parents!  We ask parents to work with us to keep our reports low and to continue to treat and monitor your children’s hair. Please notify the office or tell your child’s teacher when you treat your child so lice alert notes can be issued on COMPASS.  Reminder-any child found with live lice will be excluded from school until they are treated. 

Playtime-Approaching & Joining In 

Many social situations involve an element of risk. When we interact with others we risk being embarrassed, feeling inadequate and failing.  Shy people will often avoid social settings rather than risk feeling inept. The best way to develop social confidence is by taking those risks and discovering that these/other feelings can’t destroy you.  Mostly social risk-taking leads to success especially when students are taught the skills first. 

 Tips-

• Look for people who seem friendly, who are by themselves or in small groups. Don’t approach large groups, they are usually harder to join in. 

• Stand near them and wait for a good moment to ask, for example a pause in the game or conversation. Don’t barge straight in. Think about something friendly about the game. 

• Smile, look in their eyes and say hello.  Use their name if you know it. Don’t have a sad look on your face or look down at the ground. 

• Ask if you can join in or play. Don’t try to take over the game or conversation.  Take turns talking and listening. It’s okay if they say no.

• Go and ask another person or, ask the yard duty teacher to help you. 

Activities Breaktimes

This term, our activities at recess and lunchtime have been extremely popular. Due to popular demand, Lego Club runs 3 lunchtimes per week. It is a great way for the children to hang out and build their favourite projects. 

As the weather has turned, in craft club we have been making diamond art monster stickers and students have also been colouring strength based posters.  We are displaying the posters in the window near the Science room.  We hope these posters remind and inspire everyone that we all have it in us to dig deep and remind ourselves just how capable we are. 

If families have any wool or crochet hooks, they are no longer using then please donate these items. It will really help our students if they can practice their skills. To inspire students, we often play You Tube clips showing kids how small skills can be built on for them to make other craft masterpieces. 

Attendance & Absences

We encourage parents and carers to refer to COMPASS for information happening at school. Schools are required to work towards IMPROVING THE ATTENDANCE and PUNCTUALITY RATES of our students. When your child is going to be away parents and carers need to notify the school through COMPASS. This really helps us as we are able to communicate effectively with all relevant staff early in the school day. 

Attendance Data-It’s Cool to be at School!

When your child comes to school and it’s their birthday, we are bringing the buzz to make their day even more special. This past fortnight, we have celebrated 11 out of 12 students who came to school on their special day.  When they arrive at school in the mornings, we are presenting them with a special birthday sticker badge.  I must say the kids are really loving this!

Over the time a child attends school, having 1- or 2-days absence does not seem like much but it does add up and can impact on missed learning opportunities.

The Wellbeing team are aware that the current cost of living may be impacting our school community. In the coming newsletters I will be sharing information about local food support services that are available in the Upper Yarra area. This week the feature is the Millgrove River Valley Van. The van offers a free sausage sizzle, bacon and egg rolls, coffee and cake from 6am to 1pm on Wednesdays. Located in the Millgrove CFA carpark on the Warburton trail.

Second hand uniform

Available, contact the Wellbeing team to access second hand uniform.

Breakfast Club

If you would like your child to make use of our yummy breakfast foods, send them to school that bit earlier so they will have time to eat and enjoy their food. We serve toast until the music is playing for the start of the school day. Please remind your child that if they want to have something to eat before school that they need to head straight down to the German Room. While the music for the bell is playing there are only fruit cups and milk drinks available.

Chaplaincy

During my recent Chaplaincy catch ups I have been encouraging students with a number of things including: friendship skills, resilience building, self esteem by replacing negative self thoughts with positive ones and simply but very importantly getting outside for walks, frisbee throwing and foam plane flying. The students have really appreciated the time I have spent with them and I enjoy planning our sessions with bright, colourful and engaging content. If you feel your child might need that extra emotional support during school hours please contact Sally via email 

sally.marshall@education.vic.gov.au

or by phone call 5964 7258. I’m available on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday each week.