Student Wellbeing
Cheltenham Primary School is committed to providing a safe, secure and stimulating learning environment for all students. We understand that students reach their full potential only when they are happy, healthy and safe, and that a positive school culture helps to engage students and support them in their learning. Our school acknowledges that student wellbeing and student learning outcomes are closely linked.
Our school has a focus on the use of positive psychology in our approaches to both learning and wellbeing.
Positive psychology focuses on the positive events and influences in life, including:
- Positive experiences (like happiness, joy, inspiration, and love).
- Positive states and traits (like gratitude, resilience, empathy and mindfulness).
To support this, we have a number of proactive practices in place to support and promote positive wellbeing for all students.
In this Newsletter we will focus on using Brain-break strategies in the classroom:
Brain-breaks
During the course of a busy school day students will often need time to re-regulate. This could be following Recess or after spending time learning a new concept or practicing a skill. Here at Cheltenham Primary School our teachers recognise this and plan brain-breaks to to transition between activities which support the students to either calm their enthusiasm or re-ignite their motivation and engagement.
Brain-breaks are quick, structured, Teacher-led breaks.
Brain-breaks can support students by...
Brain-breaks often use physical movement, mindfulness exercises, or sensory activities. Brain-breaks can be done individually (like deep breathing) or as a whole class (like a round of Simon Says).
Different brains and situations need different kinds of breaks.
Some situations may require energising breaks, while others may call for chances to quiet their minds. Teacher may employ mindfulness colouring or meditation routines following the lunch break or movement break to change the energy following stationary activities. Our teachers plan for these and have a range of activities they can deploy depending on their classroom needs.
No matter what the type or form, brain-breaks take only a few minutes of instructional time and give our students a brief rest and re-set from what they were doing.
Ask your teacher what strategies work best with their class
Supports for Parents / Carers
The ReachOut Parents website offers free support for parents of teens, helping you to get the knowledge and skills to be able to support them, whatever challenge your teen faces. Of particular interest maybe the Transition to High School sections.
Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
Since 1991, Australia’s kids and young people have been turning to our professional, specialised counsellors, no matter who they are, where they live or what they want to talk about.
The Raising Children Network is an easy access parenting guide for all ages and stages of your child's development. Providing ad-free parenting videos, podcasts, articles and apps backed by Australian experts to support your parenting journey.