Wellbeing and Inclusion 

The Kindness Tree and the Friendship Bench Launch

It is with great excitement and pride that I can share the official launch of the Kindness Tree and the Friendship Bench.  The launch took place in school on Monday the 13th of November on World Kindness Day.

The Student Wellbeing Leadership Team and our Year 5 Action Team have worked very hard brainstorming ideas, proposing ideas, developing and implementing action plans and as a result of this work they have made a HUGE impact on our school.  Along with making a long lasting impact on our school, these students have also developed key leadership skills, which they will be able to utilise in their future endeavours.  Furthermore, these skills would not have developed without the support of our student's knowledge teachers and in particular Ms Gemma Wild, who has scaffolded our leaders through this learning process.  A sincere thank you to Ms Wild for all her dedication.

The Kindness Tree is a place that students can go when they want to show Kindness to others or if they are in need of kindness from others.  All they need to do is to meet at the tree and kindness will find them!

The Friendship Bench is a place that students can go when they are either in need of friendship or if they are looking to show friendship and kindness to others.  They can go and sit on the bench and friendship will come and find them!

Since the launch of the Kindness Tree and Friendship Bench, I have had so many students sharing how they have used these special places and how they have shown Kindness and Friendship to others!  What an amazing school we have!  

'I was looking for a friend to play with and wasn't sure what to do.  Then I remembered the Friendship bench and I went there and a friend found me.  I was so happy!'  Year 2 student

'I saw someone in my year sitting at the Friendship bench, so I went over and invited them to play.  They looked so happy and it felt so good to help someone like that.' Year 4 student

Thank you to our Student Wellbeing Leadership Captains & Team: 

Ojas C                    Ethan T-K                    Lana P

Lucy V                    Aaliyah B                                   Aaron M

Mia M                   Rachel B

Thank you to our Year 5 Action Team

Tate C                  Georgia K                     Maddison G

Maddox N                     Cooper W

Thank you to Ms Gemma Wild for making these ideas become a reality!

I look forward to so many more kindness and friendship filled experiences in the future!

Transitions

Transitions can be a challenging time for students, as they move from one year level to another. Therefore, it is important for educators and parents to provide support during this time to help students navigate these changes successfully, as moving from an environment that you know well to the unknown, can result in a range of different feelings.  At Karoo PS we provide support through this time in a variety of ways to meet students at their point of need.

The inclusion of our Step Up days, which occur at school, provide students with information about their 2024 year level and class.  Our first Step Up session occurs on Wednesday the 6th December, where students will go into their 2024 year level space and learn about key information about their new year.  Our second Step Up session occurs on Tuesday the 12th December.  On this day our students will be able to meet their 2024 teacher and classmates and engage in a wellbeing session together to get to know each other in preparation for 2024.  On this day, students will bring home a letter from their new teacher.  

At Karoo PS, we also provide additional transition support to students as required, this ranges from student support group (SSG) meetings and action plans, to transition social stories, as well as a comprehensive 2023/2024 teacher hand over process.

You may be reflecting on how to support your child through this transition time, please find below a list of key strategies that can be referred to.

1. Communication: Open and regular communication between parents, teachers, and students is important during a transition time. This can help a child feel more at ease and provide them with the information they need to understand what to expect.  

2. Familiarisation through Transition Activities: Providing opportunities for students to become familiar with their new environment can help alleviate anxiety. This can include visits to the new year level, meeting new teachers, and getting to know their new classmates. Engaging students in transition activities can help them feel more prepared and confident. This can include discussions about the upcoming changes, role-playing different scenarios, and providing resources or materials to help them understand what to expect.  At Karoo PS we support students during out Step Up sessions, as well as during Wellbeing sessions in class.

3. Emotional support: Recognising and addressing the emotional needs of children during transitions is important. Providing a safe space for children to express their feelings and offering support can help them feel more secure.  It is also important to validate a child's feelings.   It is okay to feel excited/nervous/anxious, as we all feel these feelings and we want our children to be okay that they are feeling a little uncomfortable but to know they are supported and that we can help them sit with and navigate through these feelings.  At school we provide time in wellbeing sessions to check in regarding our feelings and these conversations can occur at home also.

4. Routine and structure: Maintaining a consistent routine and structure can provide stability during transitions. This can include regular schedules, familiar classroom routines, and clear expectations.

5. Individualised support: Recognising that each student may have different needs during transitions is important. Providing individualised support, such as additional resources or accommodations, can help students feel supported and successful.  This occurs during SSG meetings, transition action plans and through our transition process.

6. Celebrating achievements: Recognising and celebrating students' achievements during transitions can boost their confidence and motivation. This can include acknowledging their progress, highlighting their strengths, and providing positive reinforcement.

7. Follow-up support: Transition support should not end once the initial transition period is over. Ongoing support and check-ins can help students continue to adjust and thrive in their new environment. 

By implementing these strategies, educators and parents can provide the necessary support to help our students and your children navigate transitions successfully.  We look forward to supporting your child through their next step and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to discuss further with your child's teacher.

I hope you all have a fantastic fortnight and I look forward to seeing you around our school!

Kind Regards, 

Courtney Hoffmann

Wellbeing and Inclusion Assistant Principal