Wellbeing

Be Kind at Respectful at OLA

Peyton, Olympia and Ava shared a message with all students about how we should treat each other and what is not acceptable behaviour. Teachers will be looking for children demonstrating kindness and teamwork, and they will receive a Gotcha card to add to their house team points.

At OLA, we want everyone to feel safe, respected, and included. Being kind to each other is really important.

Olympia: Sometimes, people make comments about another person’s appearance, race, behaviour, or personality. Even if it seems like a joke, these comments can be hurtful.

Ava: We are all different, and that’s what makes our school special. It’s important that we don’t make comments about someone’s race, appearance, or personality.

Peyton: Instead, we encourage everyone at OLA to be kind, respectful, and supportive of one another.

Olympia: Mrs Thompson has introduced new Gotcha cards with a focus on positive behaviour: Awesome Helper, Being Kind, and Teamwork Star.

Ava: Teachers on duty will be looking out for students showing these behaviours and will give them a Gotcha card.

Peyton: These cards can be added to the sport letterbox and will contribute to House points.

All together: Let’s work together to make OLA a kind and respectful place for everyone.

Thank you 

Fidgets at School

Fidgets can be a helpful tool to support some students with focus, attention, and self-regulation in the classroom. When used appropriately, they can assist students to remain engaged in their learning without distracting others.

However, fidgets are not toys and, when not needed or used appropriately, they can become a distraction for both the student using them and other students in the classroom. For this reason, fidgets will only be introduced following consultation between the teacher and parents/carers. This process helps determine whether a fidget is an appropriate support for a student’s individual needs and ensures clear expectations are in place for their use at school.

We appreciate your support in helping us maintain positive and productive learning environments for all students.

Grounding Techniques for Anxiety

Grounding techniques are simple yet powerful ways to help us to manage strong feelings in the immediate term. Grounding techniques allow us to connect to the present moment and take us away from the stories in our mind that often fuel anxiety.   

Grounding techniques are useful for settling ourselves when we’re feeling overwhelmed or have strong emotions. When we practice grounding techniques, we can connect to the present through our body and senses, which can keep ourselves calm.

If children find themselves feeling stuck with strong feelings, they can use grounding techniques that are simple but powerful and only take a few minutes. 

5-4-3-2-1 Technique

• Guide children through the 5,4,3,2,1 technique.  In this technique, they are intentionally taking in their surroundings using their senses.
• Notice 5 Things you can see (inside room and outside room), 4 things you can feel (teens touch them), 3 things you can hear (guide them to sounds inside the room and outside the room), 2 things they can smell (have some herbs or oils or similar ready) 1 thing they can taste (have a mint or piece of chocolate ready). 

Deep Breaths

• Take 3 deep Mindful Belly Breaths, extending out the exhale. 
• The exhale switches on the parasympathetic nervous system which is immediately calming.

Body Awareness

• Sit or lie down comfortably. Take a few deep breaths.
• Place both feet on the floor.  If you are lying down, bend the knees so the feet can press into the floor. Notice how your feet feel and any sensations you can notice.
• Move your feet up and down for a moment.  Notice any more sensations.
• Press your palms together, then release. Repeat and notice sensations.
• Rub hands together, then pause and notice sensations.
• Take a few more deep breaths and notice any body sensations.

Read Affirmations

• Read out loud a favourite affirmation.  This is best practised and chosen when in a calm state, so it feels like second nature.
• Have these stuck up somewhere to look at and read when needed.

Soothe

• Take a nice long shower or bath. 
• Use essential oils or bath bombs to engage the senses.

Connect to nature

• Sit somewhere in nature where you can soak up the environment.
• Research shows just looking at pictures of nature relaxes the mind.
• Close your eyes and feel the sun on your face and listen to sounds.

Call someone

• Call a friend or someone who cares about and share how you are feeling.
• ‘Naming’ how we feel helps to ‘tame’ how we feel.
• Share what is worrying you or upsetting yo

Move your body

• Do any type of exercise where you are moving your body.
• Using your body and focusing on your body is calming to the nervous system and helps to switch off the stress system. 

Josy Reeder

Learning Diversity and Student Wellbeing Leader