Wellbeing

Wellbeing update - Week 9, Term 2

Thank You for Your Feedback!

Thank you to all parents and carers who participated in our recent ‘Safe, Valued, and Respected’ survey. We were pleased to receive a record-breaking 130 responses from families across all year levels. The survey results revealed a 90-95% positive response rate to each question, affirming the positive impact of our ongoing efforts to enhance the experiences of students and the community at Elsternwick Primary School.

Key themes included:

• All Gender Bathrooms: A wide range of opinions were expressed.
• BYOD Program in Year 2: Suggestions for improved communication.
• Homework: Varied opinions regarding the quantity and time commitment required.

Actions taken have included:

• All Gender Bathrooms: We have increased supervision and instituted regular cleanliness checks.
• BYOD Program: We have sent further communications to Year 2 families explaining the usage and purpose of devices and are considering modifications to the program rollout for 2025.
• Homework: We have provided increased clarity around homework expectations for Year 5/6 students. If you have any specific concerns regarding your child’s homework program, modifications can be made in consultation with the classroom teacher. 

While we greatly value the feedback from the survey, we recognise that it is not always possible to meet the diverse needs and circumstances of every family. We strive to do our best within these constraints, particularly as the survey responses are anonymous.

If you have specific concerns that you would like to discuss, we encourage you to contact the school directly for a further conversation. Our  EPS Communication Guidelines are available on our school website to help you reach the appropriate person. Michael and I are always willing to meet to talk through any feedback you may have, and we frequently meet with parents/carers to make adjustments.

Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement.

Attitudes to School Survey - preliminary results

We are tremendously proud of our staff, students and community who have all contributed to our outstanding Attitudes to School Survey results for 2024. 

The Student Attitudes to School Survey is conducted each year with students across Victoria from Years 4-12. Data collected includes how students feel in relation to their school, their learning, peer relationships, resilience, bullying, health and wellbeing, physical activity, and life in general.

Our 2021 – 2025 School Strategic Plan outlines the following four year strategic targets. Next to these are our results for 2024. 

• Sense of connectedness 79% (2021) to 82%. 
  • 2024 result: 93%
• Sense of inclusion 87% (2021) to 90%
  • 2024 result: 96%
• Respect for diversity 82% (2021) to 85%
  • 2024 result: 90%
• Managing bullying 81% (2021) to 85%
  • 2024 result: 91%

Thank you to our teachers, education support staff, leadership team and our school community for helping to create an environment in which our students feel safe, connected and included. We’re looking forward to sharing these results with students in the coming weeks and getting further feedback. 

Butterfly Body Bright training 

On Thursday, 30th April, Morgan, myself and five classroom teachers from each year level completed the Body Bright Training. Body Bright is an Australian first, whole primary school program developed by Butterfly Foundation that aims to promote positive body image and a healthy relationship with eating and physical activity in all students, so they can thrive at school and in life. 

Current research tells us:

• Around 50% of 8-11yr old girls report body dissatisfaction, often wanting to be thinner.
• Having a negative body image as a child can lead to unhelpful dieting behaviours, disordered eating, depression, social and academic challenges, and eating disorders.
• Boys are often wanting to be more muscular, which is starting from the early primary school years

This full day course involved learning about what is needed to foster an inclusive and positive body image environment. We gained understanding of key risk and protective factors for children’s body image, early identification of significant body and eating disorders and how to best support these students. We are now certified to deliver the Body Bright curriculum across all year levels and will begin this as part of our key wellbeing focus area for term 3. 

We are now working towards becoming a certified Body Bright school. See more info here on how you can make a difference at home. 

Butterfly's National Helpline provides a free confidential service and trained counsellors can also provide referral information if needed.

Butterfly National Helpline

Monday to Sunday from 8am – Midnight (AEST)

Telephone, webchat, email

Telephone 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE)

www.butterflynationalhelpline.org.au