Wellbeing Report 

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. 

In the mornings I love hearing the grumbles from students that parents are “making them” put on a jumper. Well, it has been quite cold lately and I see there has been some improvement.  However, don’t assume that older students are prepared for the day. Little steps parents and keep up that nagging! 

We’ve noticed some older students are coming into school out of uniform. We all know how difficult it can be to be on top of the washing during the cold weather.  For parents who are struggling with this, please know the welfare team can lend your child a jumper or hoodie for the day. If you are needing to purchase an extra hoodie or jacket, please email the welfare team. 

Thank you to the families who have sent in clothing donations. We accept school uniform donations from families, and we are in desperate need of spare socks and boys’ and girls’ underwear to change children. If parents have any spare clothes, they no longer need, we are desperate for boys’ shorts (all sizes) and socks.  When a child has a toileting accident or gets wet, having a supply of spare clothes means we don’t need to call parents to come down to change their child. 

Now that winter is on our doorstep, we are aware that families are feeling the financial strain. Please keep in mind we have our Community Pantry for and hardship we can apply to State School Relief for school uniform, underwear, socks and school shoes and runners. 

We have some children asking staff to heat up food. Given the number of students we have at the school, this is something we cannot do.  Lunch flasks are a great way for children to have a warm meal, and you can pick them up cheaply from department stores. This week, Kmart is selling these kids flasks for $12.00. Lunch flasks are a great product; they are small and they really holds temperature well.

Lost property is located near the Prep entry door (opposite the German room). All lost property found across the school makes it way here.   At the moment, there are lunchboxes and small containers, drink bottles, jackets and jumpers.  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

Community Pantry Accepts Donations

If parents wish to donate any non-perishable items to our pantry, we are really grateful. The Welfare Team prepare hampers for families in need. We kindly ask our school community, if you are in a position to do so, donations can be dropped off at the school office or placed into our Community Pantry.  Items which will help families include:

• Rice & pasta 

• Pasta sauce

• Tomato/BBQ sauce

• 2-minute noodles

• Stock - liquid/cubes

• Tinned vegetables 

• Cake mixes, pancake mix and jelly

• Muesli bars, biscuits and crackers

• Cooking oil

• Tea, coffee and milo

• Shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, liquid soap, tissues and toilet paper

• Laundry liquid, paper towel, cleaning sprays, sponges and wipes

• Dog and cat food including tinned and dry

Playtime-Co-operation & Arguments 

We all have arguments from time to time and when this happens it does not mean the end of a friendship or having enemies. Point out to children that in all arguments both people think they are right. Sometimes, an argument can be resolved when it occurs. At other times people need to avoid hurting the other people’s feelings too much at the time by going away to calm down and then try to resolve it later.  Dealing well with arguments protects friendships and reduces bad feelings.

 Tips

• Do try to stay calm and talk through the problem using a respectful voice.

• If you or the other person are getting upset say, “We’re getting too angry.  Let’s talk about it later,” and walk away. 

• Make sure you do talk about it later. 

• When you have calmed down, recognise that allowing the bad feelings to continue is not a good thing.  You are responsible for dealing with them. 

• When you feel calm, go and talk to the other person.

• Share your point of view and tell them about your feelings eg: “I felt bad when you did not include me in your game”.

• Let them tell their point of view.  Listen without interrupting until they have finished.

• Try to find a way to be friends again. Remember to give and take and compromise. 

Head Lice 

Great job parents! We continue to have low numbers of live head lice cases in the school. This week, we’ve had 2 live cases in the senior 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. 

Infectious Diseases

To help prevent and control the transmission of infectious diseases in schools, a child must be excluded from school if he or she has any of the following:

• Gastro/Diarrhoea - until there has not been a loose bowel motion or any symptoms for 48 hours.
• Chicken Pox - until fully recovered and blisters have dried.
• Measles - at least 7 days.
• German Measles - until fully recovered and at least 4 days from the onset of rash.
• Whooping Cough - four weeks.
• Hand, foot and mouth - until all blisters have dried.
• Hepatitis - medical certificate needed.
• Impetigo “School Sores” - until treatment has commenced and sores are healed.
• Ringworm - until treatment has commenced. Medical certificate may be required.
• Mumps - until fully recovered.
• Scabies - medical certificate needed.

Importantly, children who have been vomiting should not attend school until 48 hours after the vomiting ceases.

While these are some common diseases, please refer to the Better Health School Excursion Table* for a comprehensive list and updated information. Please contact the office if your child contracts any of these. Please refer to the Dept of Health for further information-https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/school-exclusion-table

Activities Breaktimes

This term, our activities at recess and lunchtime have been extremely popular. Due to popular demand, Lego Club runs 3 lunchtimes per week. It is a great way for the children to hang out and build their favourite projects. 

As the weather has turned, in craft club we have been making diamond art monster sticker and students have also been colouring Strength based posters.  We are displaying the posters in the window near the Science room.  We hope these posters remind and inspire everyone that we all have it in us to dig deep and remind ourselves just how capable we are. 

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. 

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. 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!

When your child comes to school and it’s their birthday, we are bringing the buzz to make their day even more special. This past fortnight, we have celebrated 12 out of 14 students who came to school on their special day.  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!

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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.