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 you will find a reminder of two really important tools that we use across the school to support our students - Growth MindsetandThe Resilience Project.
Having a growth mindset...
... means that our students are able to believe that their outcomes can change as a result of their own efforts, perseverance, and practice.
You might hear them say, “Writing is really tricky for me, but if I keep trying, I will get better at it.”
As our students develop this growth mindset, they see setbacks as ways to learn, they embrace challenges and are persistent when they make mistakes. This links well with the "Power of Yet" which was highlighted in the last Newsletter.
The Resilience Project
The research is clear; the more positive emotion you experience, the more resilient you will be. For that reason, our students engage in weekly Wellbeing lessons which encourage the foundational skill development of G. E. M. - Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness along with the opportunity to focus on practicing these strategies within our classrooms.
We focus on these three key pillars as well as Emotional Literacy because they have been proven to cultivate positive emotions, maintain perspectives and support the development of a social conscience which supports cohesive and compassionate communities.
Supports for Parents / Carers
The Orange Door - Support for families | orangedoor.vic.gov.au
All families can experience difficult times and sometimes need extra help and support for a range of reasons.
The Orange Door can help if:
- you are worried about the wellbeing and/or development of your child(ren) or young people
- you need help to strengthen your parenting skills and develop positive family relationships
- your family needs help to get through stressful times, which may be caused by a range of reasons including separation, mental health, grief, drug and alcohol abuse, financial worries, illness or living with a disability
- you need extra help managing the behaviour of your child(ren) or young people
- someone at home is making you, your children or young people, or another family member feel unsafe or afraid
- you’re pregnant or a new parent and need support and advice
- you have concerns for a vulnerable child or young person in your community.
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.
Parenting teens: support & advice | ReachOut Parents
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 | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800
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.