Wellbeing

SWPBS Update

Congratulations to the wonderful students who received certificates at assembly last week. Well done on showing our school values so many times in the playground!

SWPBS Family Survey

Thanks very much to those who've already filled this out! If you haven't, please could you fill out our end of year SWPBS Annual Parent/Carer Survey? It won't take too many clicks, and will help us to take into account your views as we plan for how we support student behaviour in 2026. We're currently conducting student and staff surveys too. Thanks in advance!

Child Development & Wellbeing Information

This week: Supporting Transitions

All children will be making a transition from the end of this year into the beginning of next year, whether it be to a new class, new primary school or into secondary school. This can bring up plenty of feelings for kids - both nice-to-have and also really hard-to-have. A recent survey of Grade 6s across the Macedon Ranges revealed that their number one worry was transitioning to high school, so we know it’s something that really plays on kids’ minds.

At school, we’re reviewing key skills for connecting with people and will give out some guidebooks for those who’ll be heading to a new school at the end of the year. Grade 6s have been attending special transition support programs. Towards the end of this year, all students will have a chance to meet their new classes for next year.

There’s a lot that families can do to support their child through these changes too. Preparing for a new school year begins before this one is over. Then the support continues the week before, day of, and first couple of weeks of the new year. Some key tips include…

• Acknowledging and normalising all the different feelings kids have about the new school year
• Letting your child know you believe they’re ready and capable for the new year (e.g. “It’s normal to feel a bit worried, but I know you can do this. You’re so resilient. Look at how you’ve been able to…”)
• Helping your child to identify things to look forward to - e.g. about the teacher, friends/classmates they might know, the opportunity to meet new people, or preferred subjects they’ll get to do
• Sharing things you appreciated at school and ways that you dealt with challenges at school (while avoiding presenting school as a perfectly fun time or sharing horror stories)
• Discussing and role-playing things like: meeting new people, walking in the door on day one, asking for help
• Setting up and practising routines, like: getting ready, drop off, saying goodbye, getting picked up/getting home

Recommendations

Read: 6 ways to support children to settle into a new class - Great advice from the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Learning on how to support kids with change in the new school year (whatever grade level they're in)

Read: Raising Children Network as always has excellent advice for families on supporting students who are moving schools and students who are starting secondary school

Read: Surviving the first week of high school from Maggie Dent is a short read packed with lots of practical advice for families

Listen: Parental as Anything podcast: Back to School - Preparing tweens for high school - 22 mins of tips and expert advice