Student Wellbeing
Over the past week, all students from Prep to Year 6 took part in Australia's Biggest Child Safety Lesson with a focus on 'Boundaries and Body Parts'. They viewed a video and took part in a range of activities in association with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation personal safety lesson. The lesson encouraged children to learn the correct names for their private and public body parts and how to set personal space boundaries.
Why do we believe in teaching children the correct names of body parts?
It is important to teach children the correct names of their body parts from a young age. Some offenders will test a child’s personal safety awareness and knowledge of their own anatomy to assess the risk of the child telling. Children who know the proper names and functions of private body parts are less vulnerable to being targetted by abusers and more likely to tell an adult if they have been harmed.
As a parent you can reinforce these messages by establishing rules around body parts that may include:
- No looking at private parts
- No taking pictures
- No touching private parts.
- Explain to your child that things about body parts should never be a secret. If an adult needs to touch a child in order to help them stay safe and healthy, it should never be a secret
Why are personal space boundaries important?
Child sexual abuse often begins with a perpetrator ignoring a child’s personal boundaries and bodily autonomy. Talk to your child about their personal boundaries and teach them to tell a safety helper if someone tries to cross a boundary.
Be alert to any adult who:
• Does not respect your child’s boundaries or listen when they say ‘No’.
• Is excessively affectionate and ignores your child’s signs of discomfort.
• Exposing your child to inappropriate content.
• Makes your child feel more special than others.
• Gives surprise gifts to your child.
Remind your child that they are the boss of their own body and that they can say ‘No!’ to anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.
What are safe and unsafe secrets?
Talk to children about safe and unsafe secrets. Explain to them that if someone asks them to keep a secret that makes them feel bad, they must talk to a safety helper straight away. Even if someone threatens them, secrets that make them feel bad should never be kept.
What are safety networks and Safety Helpers?
The people on a child’s safety network are the names of five adults a child has identified as grownups who they feel safe around. We call these five grownups their Safety Helpers. Each student was given the time tp think about who their Safety Helpers could be.
Shout to Mrs Byrne for assisting our 2023 Year 6s in leaving their mark within our playground creating our
WONDERFUL NEW HOUSE TEAM TOTEM POLES
Autism Seminar in Seaford
On Wednesday 29th November 2023 renowned Autistic Self Advocate Daniel Giles O.A.M. (Order of Australia Medal) and his father Daryl Giles will be presenting “From Diagnosis to O.A.M. – A Personal Autism Journey Plus a Siblings Perspective” in Seaford. The session starts at 6:30 pm (doors open 30 minutes earlier).
SPECIAL GUEST PRESENTER: Leash Purcell^ - Leash is Daniel’s sister who presents the valuable siblings insight into how they see their sibling who is Autistic from the aspects of home life, attending the same school and the challenges that presents for a sibling as well as from her perspective as a qualified educator (Masters Degree) who sees both the educators and the families understanding of the journey.
Our presentation is highly regarded and we believe, will be of special interest to:
- Educators working with Autistic students
- Health Care Professionals
- Carers of Autistic people
- Parents of Autistic children
- Family Members
The session will run for approx. 3 hours including question time.
Ticket prices are as follows:
- Professional (includes certificate for professional development purposes): AUD$75.00*
- Individuals on the Autism Spectrum, family members and other: AUD$30.00*
*Plus a $0.50 Trybooking fee
Link to purchase tickets: www.trybooking.com/CMQJE
Warm Regards,
Jenny Todd
(Student Wellbeing Leader)
jennyt@sjsorrento.catholic.edu.au