Wellbeing
From the Director of Wellbeing | What's happening in Term 2 |
Kingston Youth Services Term 2 Parent Information Night - Butterfly Foundation | headspace Bentleigh and Elsternwick | Contact form | Helpful contacts
Welcome back to Term 2. We hope that you all had a wonderful holiday break and are feeling refreshed.
With the onset of the cooler weather and the finish of daylight savings, we need to make the most of any daylight we can, to ensure we are getting some vitamin D into our bodies. You can still synthesise vitamin D on a cloudy day because full spectrum sunlight is still occurring behind the overcast skies during any season. Ultraviolet (UV) light is required to produce vitamin D, which is still present even on a cloudy day. Vitamin D can make you happier. There is sufficient research to suggest that strong levels of vitamin D not only correlate with reduced stress – it also improves the production of “feel good” hormones. Vitamin D actively fights depression by increasing serotonin, the hormone key to stabilising mood and increasing happiness.
Kerri Haworth
Director of Wellbeing
What's happening in Term 2...
Year 7
- 27 May - Vaping presentation. All year levels will watch a video, streamed into their pastoral care classrooms on the dangers of vaping and how to quit.
- 3 June - UR Strong - Friendship Tips for Teens. In this workshop, students learn what to expect in their friendships through The 4 Friendship Facts, applying these ‘truths’ in friendship to their real-life. Using the Friend-o-Meter, students reflect on the health of their friendships & Friendship Groups. They learn how to manage conflict (in-person and online), exploring the different approaches for responding to Friendship Fires® versus Mean-on-Purpose behaviour. Students learn how to apply these friendship strategies to other relationships in their lives.
- 17 June - Toolbox Education - Emotion Regulation. Sometimes our emotions get the better of us. This can lead to fights, arguments and friendship breakdowns. Understanding how to let out our emotions is an important step. This workshop draws on DBT to show students how to calm themselves down before things spill over.
We will continue our Year 7 Transition check-ins to make sure we are supporting our youngest members of the community as they navigate the huge leap from primary school to secondary school. We aim to have met with all Year 7’s by the end of Semester 1.
Year 8
- 22 April - UR Strong - The Language of Friendship. In this workshop, students learn what to expect in their friendships through The 4 Friendship Facts, applying these ‘truths’ in friendship to their real-life. Using the Friend-o-Meter, students reflect on the health of their friendships & Friendship Groups. They learn how to manage conflict (in-person and online), exploring the different approaches for responding to Friendship Fires® versus Mean-on-Purpose behaviour. Students learn how to apply these friendship strategies to other relationships in their lives.
- 27 May - Vaping presentation. All year levels will watch a video, streamed into their pastoral care classrooms on the dangers of vaping and how to quit.
- 3 June - Toolbox Education - Thinking Traps. Our minds deliver us unhelpful thoughts all day. Some of these thoughts lead to anxiety, school refusal, self-doubt or disengagement. It is crucial for students to be able to identify and manage these thoughts. This workshop draws on CBT to show students how to challenge and reframe their unhelpful thoughts.
Year 9
- 27 May - Vaping presentation. All year levels will watch a video, streamed into their pastoral care classrooms on the dangers of vaping and how to quit.
- 17 June - VIA Character Strengths Survey. Research shows that applying your strengths can increase confidence, happiness, positive relationships and reduces stress and anxiety. Students will complete the survey to determine their own top 3 character strengths and how to use them to enhance their life and their outcomes.
Year 10
- 27 May - Vaping presentation. All year levels will watch a video, streamed into their pastoral care classrooms on the dangers of vaping and how to quit.
- 29 May - We Are Gibber! - Smashed. Smashed provides hard-hitting interactive education that empowers students to behave responsibly and make informed choices. Students observe the experiences of three credible teenage characters, exploring and reflecting on vital underage drinking themes including; relationships, consent, health, safety and career aspirations. By interacting with the characters the students are challenged to think, what if that was me? Offering advice, discovering realistic ways to deal with peer pressure and where to get further support.
Year 11
- 22 April - Felstead Education - Study Calm. Study calm is a practical program in which students will engage in a range of easy to learn, yet highly powerful mindfulness and meditation skills. It is also combined with research backed information to help students understand the benefits and value of the skills they have learnt. During the program students will learn practical breathing exercises to release stress and tension; how slow, deep breathing can improve brain function and academic performance; skills to help them reduce anxiety around SACs, exams and ATAR scores; skills to help them perform at their best under exam conditions; practical ways to improve sleep patterns; and how to use meditation and mindfulness techniques on an ongoing basis.
- 27 May - Vaping presentation. All year levels will watch a video, streamed into their pastoral care classrooms on the dangers of vaping and how to quit.
Year 12
- 22 April - Victorian Institute of Sport - Be Fit, Be Well program. Elite Hockey player, Emily Hamilton-Smith provided an important message to the students, emphasising the link between physical activity and wellness. Key topics included motivation, resilience, goal setting, coping with pressure and health/nutrition.
- 27 May - Vaping presentation. All year levels will watch a video, streamed into their pastoral care classrooms on the dangers of vaping and how to quit.
IDAHOBIT Day
17 May - We will have Kingston Youth Services come to the school at lunchtime to play games with the students. We will also have badge-making activities. For any students wanting to participate, they will be able to make pronouns badges.
Term 2 Parent Information Night - Butterfly Foundation
Are you looking for some practical advice on how to support your child’s body confidence?
It can be hard to know how to respond when a child speaks negatively about themselves, particularly when so many adults struggle with their own body image.
Join the experts from the Butterfly Foundation for a free, relaxed, and informative 75mins seminar for parents/carers on practical strategies for supporting positive body image in children and teens. Topics include: the power of positive role modelling; reducing appearance talk, healthy behaviours in relation to eating and exercise, early intervention and referral advice.
Thursday 23rd of May
7.00pm - 8.30pm
https://www.trybooking.com/CPPCV
By way of a reminder this session is designed for an adult audience and we kindly ask that children do not participate.
Butterfly specialist counsellors are available 8.00am – Midnight (AEST), 7 days a week should you have any concerns about eating disorders or body image issues, whether for yourself or someone you care about - https://butterfly.org.au/get-support/helpline/
For further information and free resources, families with teenagers can access Butterfly’s Body Kind Families - https://butterfly.org.au/get-involved/campaigns/bodykindfamilies/ (registration required). For families with younger children, information is available as part of Butterfly’s Body Bright Primary Program - https://www.butterflybodybright.org.au/resources
headspace Bentleigh and Elsternwick
KEY UPDATE: We are currently experiencing lower-than-usual wait times at our sites, and any young people referred can speak to a clinician within a few business days.
Chelt.Sec Wellbeing Team
Kerri Haworth Nella Foley
Director of Wellbeing Mental Health Practitioner
James Stoddard Nicole Huang Donna Hurst Jackie Teese
Speech Pathologist Counsellor Counsellor Counsellor
Wellbeing Contact Form
Contact our Cheltenham Secondary College Wellbeing team directly with any concerns or issues and one of the team will get back to you. The form can be accessed here.
Helpful Contacts
Headspace
Headspace Centres can be a one-stop shop for all young people who just need some help with everyday stuff or wellbeing and physical health.
Kids Helpline
Kids Helpline is across Australia, it is free, private and confidential 24/7. Mainly for young people aged 5 to age 25.
Call them on.. 1800 55 1800
Lifeline
Provides all Australians everywhere experiencing a personal crisis allowing 24-hour support. Call them on.. 13 11 14
Beyond Blue
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
Provides information and support which helps tackle head-on the effects of mental health issues no matter where or what age.
Call them on.. 1300 22 4636
Parentline
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/serviceprofiles/parentline-service
Fantastic service for parents and carers of young children from a few days of age all the way up to 18-year-olds. This service offers counselling and support which is confidential and anonymous on all issues around parenting. Call them on...13 22 89.