Student Wellbeing
Jessica McGurk
Welcome back!
Welcome back to our students & families. Our wellbeing team consists of Jess McGurk (Wellbeing Coordinator) and Tash Roberts (ES Wellbeing Support). As a team we aim to support both students and their families to make the school experience a positive and rewarding one. Some of the things the wellbeing team can support with are;
Linking families and students in with external agencies where continued care and support are required
Providing financial assistance when extra help is needed
Supporting students to make adjustments to their classroom environment
Coordinating programs that support the physical, social, emotional and mental health of all students
Running lunchtime activities in the Wellbeing Room
Supporting students with transitions that occur throughout their schooling
A listening ear when students are having a challenging day.
If you would like to make contact with either Jess or Tash at any stage, please contact the front office on (03) 5491 1280.
We look forward to working with students and families throughout the year.
Sleep
During the holidays it is easy to get out of our regular sleep routines & late nights are common, as we can sleep in or rest during the day. Developing bad sleep habits is easy to do, especially as the year goes on. Now that our students are back at school, it is important that good sleep habits are restored so opportunities for learning can be maximised. The start of a new year is a perfect time to hit the re-set button & establish clear & consistent routines.
How much sleep do children need?
The amount of sleep we need changes with age. Everyone is different, but as a guide, children need the following amounts of sleep every night:
ages 3 to 5: 10 to 13 hours
ages 6 to 13: 9 to 11 hours
ages 14 to 17: 8 to 10 hours
Getting enough sleep is vital for a child’s physical health, brain function, emotional wellbeing, safety & ability to function day to day. Not having enough sleep, or not sleeping well, can affect how children learn & lead to mood swings & behavioural problems.
Tips to help children sleep well
Establish a sleep schedule/appropriate bedtime for their age & stick to it
Establish a bedtime routine & follow it each night
Help your child wind down prior to bedtime with quiet, relaxing activities
Make sure the bedroom is suitable for sleep (ventilation, temperature etc)
Avoid stimulants such as sugary food, sports drinks etc
Turn off technology well before bedtime
Source: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/sleep-tips-for-children
Catholic Care Victoria (CCV)- Parent programs & workshops
Over the year, CCV run a wide-range of one-off parent programs, as well as lengthier workshops. The delivery is both online & face-to-face & addresses a range of range of useful topics. Some programs are free, however some attract a cost.
Each term they publish a calendar which will feature on the Parent’s Bulletin. In the past, a number of staff & families have participated in CCV programs & have spoken very highly of them. Please see the attached flyer as to what’s on offer this term.
Register at: www.catholiccarevic.org.au/register
CCV also offer single session parent consultations which are available on weekdays, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm. Consultations are offered via phone, online via Zoom, or face-to-face. To book a single-session parent consultation, call the Bendigo office reception on (03) 5438 1300.
