Wellbeing

Everyone Belongs

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we step into October, we are excited to embrace the theme of "Everyone Belongs" as a powerful initiative to combat bullying in our school community. This month, we focus on fostering a sense of acceptance, kindness, and belonging for every student. We believe that every child deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued, and together we can promote these essential values.

SWELL Day Activities: We kicked off our October festivities with our SWELL Day, with Art and Wellbeing activities. These art activities allowed students to express themselves creatively while exploring themes of acceptance and friendship. Following these activities, the whole school viewed the animated films "Inside Out" and "Inside Out 2."

"Inside Out" delves into the intricacies of young Riley's mind as she navigates her family's relocation, with her five personified emotions guiding her actions and thoughts. This film skilfully and compassionately illustrates the inner workings of Riley's mind, emphasising the importance of understanding and embracing our emotions and fostering positive relationships to cultivate a sense of security and belonging amidst life's challenges.

"Inside Out 2” - Makes room for new emotions, exploring the unexpected arrival of new emotions in teenager Riley's mind headquarters, shaking up the dynamics of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. This new addition, Anxiety, poses a unique challenge to the familiar emotions, leading to intriguing developments.

These movies serve as a launchpad for our ‘Everyone Belongs’ initiative at SJW, focusing on combating bullying. It provides a platform for learning, discussions, and increasing awareness about bullying prevention, intervention, and supporting one another.

Bullying No Way:

In the following weeks, our students will learn about combatting bullying We will explore various resources, including Kids Helpline videos, which will be viewed in class. These videos will help spark conversations about bullying and empower our students to stand up for themselves and their peers. Circle time opportunities will encourage open dialogue, allowing students to share their thoughts and feelings in a safe environment.

RRRR Curriculum Focus:

As we progress through October, our focus will shift to the RRRR (Resilience, Rights, Respectful and Relationships) curriculum. Students will explore important topics, including:

Topic 2: Personal Strengths – Understanding and embracing individual strengths.
Topic 3: Positive Coping – Learning healthy ways to cope with challenges and emotions.
Topic 4: Problem Solving – Developing strategies to resolve conflicts amicably.
Topic 6: Help Seeking – Encouraging students to seek help when they need it.

These discussions will equip our students with the tools they need to navigate relationships and foster a supportive community.

Odd Socks Day:

To conclude our month of activities, we invite all students to participate in Odd Socks Day on Thursday, October 31st. Wearing mismatched socks serves as a fun and meaningful conversation starter about acceptance and kindness. It’s a chance for students to celebrate their uniqueness and remind each other that it's perfectly okay to be themselves.

Let’s come together as a school community to promote acceptance and kindness!

We are thrilled to embark on this important journey with our students and encourage you to engage in conversations at home about the themes we will be exploring throughout the month. Together, we can create a safe and inclusive environment where Everyone Belongs!

Thank you for your continued support!

Warm regards,

Connie Bof

Wellbeing Leader

connie.bof@sjwreservoirnth.catholic.edu.au