Assistant Principal 

Katrina Spicer - Wellbeing

6th September 2024

Illnesses

There are many children presenting to school with a range of seasonal illnesses at the moment. Many children are experiencing hay fever, but there are lots of coughs, colds and flu-like illnesses around as well.

If your child is experiencing any cold or flu-like symptoms, we recommend you administer a Covid test. We encourage those who have coughs and colds to wear a mask to prevent the spread of germs. The school has an ample supply of masks.

Children who develop a fever will be sent home.

If your child suffers from hay fever and needs to take medication during school hours, please complete a medication form and hand it, along with your child's medication to the office.

Prep Father's Day Celebration

Our Prep students invited their dads to school last Friday to celebrate Fathers' Day. They enjoyed a letter hunt around the school and had a wonderful time completing class activities together and making paper helicopters and planes out of paper and straws. 

Thank you to all of the dads and special people who attended.

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Boeing Incursion

Today, the year 4, 5 and 6 STEM Enrichment students participated in an incursion run by Boeing. Students learnt about concepts such as air pressure and aerodynamics, and then built their own rockets. Congratulations to the winning team, whose rocket travelled 22 metres!

Thank you to Mr Stockton for organising this fantastic opportunity for our students.

Katrina Spicer

Assistant Principal for Wellbeing and Inclusion

katrina.spicer@education.vic.gov.au

THE QUEST FOR INDEPENDENCE AND IDENTITY

By Dr Justin Coulson

“A lot of parents will do anything for their children, except let them be themselves” – Banksy

This quote hits home for many of us. We all want the best for our kids, but sometimes our efforts to guide them can stifle their individuality. While setting boundaries is essential (think veggies, homework and bedtime), too much control can backfire.

Revel in Rebellion

Setting limits on our children’s behaviour is a natural part of parenting, but it’s important to strike a balance between limits and control. Our kids are wired to test boundaries, and that’s actually a good thing! Their defiance is often a sign of a healthy desire for autonomy and independence.

Yes, our children’s defiance can be inconvenient or even frustrating, but research suggests that those so-called ‘strong-willed’ children often develop stronger self-reliance and wellbeing later in life. So, if you find yourself parenting a little rebel, take heart – their spirited nature is likely a positive sign of their growth and development.

Be their Safety Net, not their Sherpa

Think of your child’s journey as a mountain they need to climb. It’s tempting to try to pave the path for them, but they need to scramble, stumble and figure things out on their own. You job is to be their safety net, not their Sherpa.

Our role isn’t to control, but to guide. By offering a safe space to push against, we empower our children to flourish and become their most authentic selves.

The Identity Quest

The quest to find out who we really are begins early and lasts a lifetime. Letting children be themselves means fostering self-understanding, discovering passions, promoting independent thinking and allowing autonomy to share their identity and decisions. Children need the freedom to make choices – even mistakes – to discover who they truly are.

What Lights You Up?

Have you noticed that your child is energised by some things but completely uninterested in others? Each of our children has unique talents, strengths and gifts. Helping them discover those things that spark delight and enthusiasm, and developing those things over time, will help them discover themselves.

Don’t Follow the Crowd

Encouraging our children to think independently and stand up for what they believe in, even when it means standing alone, is crucial in helping them discover who they really are. You can help your children do this in a number of ways:

1.Don’t tell them what to think, instead ask them what they think. 

It might be easy in the heat of a disagreement to tell your teen that they don’t know what they’re talking about when they offer an opinion contrary to yours. You’ll actually get further by digging a little deeper, rather than trying to prove them wrong: “Wow, you have strong opinions about [topic]. Tell me why you feel so strongly.”

2. Invite them to take the perspective of others.

When someone with a different religion, culture or way of life does something that they react negatively to, invite them to consider why that person may have acted that way.

3. Encourage them to think critically but act compassionately.

Unfortunately, the people who get the most global attention are not always the best role models. Rather than shielding your child from difficult news stories, use them as a springboard for meaningful conversations (while keeping their age in mind). Instead of focusing on simple judgements of ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, dig deeper with questions like:

• “What have you heard about this situation? What are your initial thoughts?”
• “Why do you think people have different opinions on this matter?”
• “How might the actions of those involved affect others? How might they feel?”
• “If you were in their shoes, what would you do differently?”

By asking open-ended questions, you encourage your child to think critically, analyse different perspectives, and develop empathy for those involved. It’s a chance to help them form their own opinions based on thoughtful consideration, rather than simply repeating what they hear from others.

Letting go and allowing our children to make their own choices, even with the risk of missteps, can be one of the hardest yet most rewarding parts of parenting. By offering support, guidance and unwavering belief in their potential, you empower your child to forge their own path and become a confident, independent individual.

Our school subscription to Happy Families allows access to the Happy Families website to all members of our school community. 

Families can access the Happy Families website at: https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/login/whps

Password: happywhps