Hi everyone, we have a fantastic Wellbeing Team with me, Sally and Libby. We can help with any parenting worries or support your family with home or family concerns. The Wellbeing Team are on before and after school duty and we can help with any questions or queries you may have.

The wellbeing team work closely with our teachers, students, parents/carers and services. We offer support to children and parents as well as pass on communication to staff. We regularly help with practical issues including forgotten lunchboxes, jumpers and lost school bags. We also provide emotional support to students who can’t find anyone to play with, have a friendship problem or may need help with managing big feelings.

In the classrooms, we use the “Zones of Regulation”. The Zones of Regulation aims to teach children strategies to help them to identify their emotions and cope with these feelings so they can get back to feeling calm and ready to learn. We are working on upskilling students to better understand and name their emotions and the ‘tools’ that they can use to regulate themselves when needed. If you are interested in learning more about the Zones of Regulation there is a fantastic website that can give you further details.

https://zonesofregulation.com/

We have noticed an improvement that students are dressing to match the weather. Older students are now asking if they can borrow a jumper for the day. There has been so much sickness lately, we are so pleased to see the kids are rugged up and warm for the day.

We all know how difficult it can be to be on top of the washing during the cold weather so please let us know if you are needing more uniform. Through the week, Sally and I make up bags to send home to families. If you are needing to purchase any extra clothing items, please email the welfare team.

The Wellbeing Team are happy to take donations including arts and craft items, wool, Lego, jigsaw puzzles, board games and books. We are always looking for things to help support our activity clubs that we run at lunchtimes. We are desperate to get some duplo to help some Prep students. If you have some duplo that your children no longer use or are having a clean out at home, please keep us in mind. Thank you in advance!

We also accept school uniform donations from families. Some uniform is used to change children. Currently, we are in desperate need of spare black tracksuit pants sizes from 5-8, socks and boys’ and girls’ underwear. All parents need to do is drop the bags off at the office and we will collect them.

Lost property is located near the Prep entry door (opposite the German room). All lost property found across the school makes it way here. If your child has lost something, please pop down and take a look.

Across the week we have several opportunities for students to feel supported with their friendships whether it’s during break times out in the yard/electives or speaking to our welfare team. If you have any questions or are looking for tips, please speak to staff. We really hope your children come home from school happy to talk and share their day with you.

For any enquiries, please email the Wellbeing Team at-

Andre.Campbell@education.vic.gov.au

Sally.Marshall@education.vic.gov.au

elizabeth.martin3@education.vic.gov.au

Attendance & Absences

We encourage parents and carers to refer to COMPASS for information happening at school. Schools are required to work towards IMPROVING THE ATTENDANCE and PUNCTUALITY RATES of our students.

We regularly look at our attendance data and one thing we notice clearly is that regular attendance matters. Students miss out on all the big things including class discussions and all the interaction that happen in the classroom. Being away from school a lot can be lonely. When students are away frequently, their academic growth is significantly reduced. It impacts students building on prior learning, practising skills as well as stay connected to the curriculum sequence.

Being at school helps students form friendships and develop teamwork skills. It also helps them to feel a strong sense of belonging within their class and also the whole school. School belonging is essential for student wellbeing, helps student mental health, strengthen their resilience and persistence.

In the mornings, getting to school on time is essential. This helps set your child up for the day as wells helps them be ready to start learning with their grade. For families having difficult mornings that is contributing to their child’s attendance, please speak to your child’s teacher and/or the Wellbeing Team. We are on duty in the kiss and drop at school drop off time as well as after school. We are here to help you and your child, and we know many local services, and we have capacity to link you in if this is something you are looking for.

When your child is going to be away parents and carers need to notify the school through COMPASS. This really helps us as we are able to communicate effectively with all relevant staff early in the school day.

Attendance Data-It’s Cool to be at School!

This past fortnight we have celebrated 12 out of 14 students who came to school on their special day. When your child comes to school and it’s their birthday, we are bringing the buzz to make their day even more special. When they arrive at school in the mornings, we are presenting them with a special birthday sticker badge. I must say the kids are really loving this!

Over the time a child attends school, having 1- or 2-days absence does not seem like much but it does add up and can impact on missed learning opportunities.

Head Lice

This fortnight, we have had only 1 report of live head lice in the school. We ask parents to work with us to keep our reports low and to continue to treat and monitor your children’s hair. Please notify the office or tell your child’s teacher when you treat your child so lice alert notes can be issued on COMPASS. Reminder-any child found with live lice will be excluded from school until they are treated.

RUOK? Day 10th September

Later in the term will be the national reminder for RUOK? day. RUOK? Day is a great reminder of the power of a simple conversation. Checking in with each other can make a real difference, not just on RUOK? Day but every day. During our colouring club time at lunchtimes, we are having simple conversations about checking in with our friends and being a good listener. Students have started making posters and are doing craft activities for our window.

Activities Breaktimes

Activity	Recess	Lunchtime
Monday	No clubs	Lego club-library & colouring
Tuesday	No clubs	Wool craft, board games & colouring-outside the specialist rooms
Wednesday	No clubs	Diamond Art, board games & colouring-outside the specialist rooms
Thursday	No clubs	Lego club-library & colouring
Friday	No clubs	Lego club-library & colouring

During winter, our activities at recess and lunchtime are still going strong. For children who can’t go outside for any health reason, we do offer supervision at our activity clubs. Students enjoy doing puzzles together with their friends and helping other students make some wonderful creations. In wool craft, students can make snowflakes, turtles, pom poms, cats’ eyes and they can learn early crotchet skills. In craft club, students have been making diamond art stickers and bookmarks. Lego Club is always popular, and the children work well together on their designs.

If families have any wool or crochet hooks, they are no longer using then please donate these items. It will really help our students if they can practice their skills. To inspire students, we often play You Tube clips showing kids how small skills can be built on for them to make other craft masterpieces.

The Wellbeing team are aware that the current cost of living may be impacting our school community. In recent newsletters I have been sharing information about local food support services that are available in the Upper Yarra area. This week the feature is Foothills Community Hub. Located in Upway, just 33 minutes from Woori Yallock, the Upway Community Hub serves home cooked main meals at 5:15pm followed by dessert. 62-64 Main Street, Upway.

Second hand uniform

Available, contact the Wellbeing team to access second hand uniform.

Foodbank fundraiser

On Wednesday we held a Cookie and Cake sale to raise some funds to give back a little to Foodbank. Foodbank delivers food to our school every week. They fully stock out pantry and provide the bread, vegemite and honey for breakfast club. We use the fruit and popcorn supplied by Foodbank to provide extra snacks for our students in the classroom to help the teachers boost up lunch boxes on those hungry days. Sandy baked 10 cakes and 300 chocolate chip cookies which sold at $1 each. We raised over $170 to send to Foodbank as a thank you for their support this year. Thanks to all those who allowed their child to buy a cake, we value your support this fundraiser.

Breakfast Club

Now serving canned spaghetti! If you would like your child to make use of our yummy breakfast foods, send them to school that bit earlier so they will have time to eat and enjoy their food. We serve toast until the music is playing for the start of the school day. Please remind your child that if they want to have something to eat before school that they need to head straight down to the German Room. While the music for the bell is playing there are only fruit cups and milk drinks available. Breakfast club has been very popular with over 100 students attending.

Chaplaincy

During my recent Chaplaincy catch ups I have been encouraging students with a number of things including: friendship skills, resilience building, self esteem by replacing negative self thoughts with positive ones and simply but very importantly getting outside for walks, frisbee throwing and foam plane flying. The students have really appreciated the time I have spent with them and I enjoy planning our sessions with bright, colourful and engaging content. If you feel your child might need that extra emotional support during school hours please contact Sally via email

sally.marshall@education.vic.gov.au

or by phone call 5964 7258. I’m available on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday each week.

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