Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS)

Welcome back to Term 3! It has been lovely chatting to students about their break, and we have lots to look forward to in the coming weeks. 

Mental Health snd Wellbeing

This week, Friendology social skills groups will begin again. Students who participate are thoroughly enjoying the program, eagerly anticipating each session. As the success of the program is evolving, we make adjustments as required to cater to student need, so this term we are inviting even more students to take part. 

The lesson focus for the first part of the Term will cover concepts such as using a ‘Friend-O-Meter’ to better gauge a healthy relationship, ‘friendship fires’ – what these are and how to manage them, how to identify ‘mean on purpose’ behaviour and how to work through it and dealing with tricky situations by being kind and strong.

Naidoc Week Celebrations

NAIDOC Week 2026 was celebrated nationwide from 5–12 July. The theme for this milestone year was "50 Years of Deadly," marking five decades of national celebrations that honour the strength, resilience, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year at Camelot Rise we have been fortunate enough to secure the insight and expertise from Merilyn Duff - a proud elder from the Eternal Ancestors Aboriginal Cultural Consultancy network. She will be running workshops with students from each level across the school over weeks 3 and 4. 

The importance of sleep

https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Bedtime_problems/

One of the issues raised through our parent surveys was around sleep. Please see attached a link that may be of interest to families around sleep requirements for children and some strategies to support. There are also some very helpful fact sheets available on this website covering a range of areas related to childhood development – The Royal Children’s Hospital, that may be useful. 

‘The beautiful thing about learning is that no-one can take it away from you’ – BB King.

My door is always open to discuss anything, otherwise please feel free to email or call. Have a wonderful week,

Mrs G

tennille.giannopoulos@education.vic.gov.au