Hi everyone, you have a great Wellbeing Team at Woori, with Sally and myself, we can help with any parenting worries or support you 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.

This term we’ve had an increase in students complaining that they are hungry at break times. We offer vegemite and honey sandwiches, fresh fruit, fruit cups and Messy Monkey snacks. If children are hungry this really impacts on their concentration, moods and their learning. We ask parents to check in with their child and talk about their food needs. Instead of sandwiches, many children prefer other options for lunchtime. 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 $6.00. Lunch flasks are a great product, they are small in size, and it really holds temperature well.

Woori Gift Giving Tree & Hamper Community Appeal

Before the school year winds up, we are again inviting families to join us in making this Christmas one filled with joy and happiness for families in our community. Sally and I have been planning for our annual Christmas Gift Giving Tree and Christmas hamper drive.

For students and families looking to donate either a gift or a pantry item, we will set up our Gift Giving Tree and Xmas hamper box down at the community pantry (in the main building down at the entry for the grade 1 and grade 2 area). In the past, our families have given generously, so please pop an extra item in your trolley when you are shopping. This time of year, it’s nice to pay it forward and also to think about those people less fortunate than us. These small gestures really do help our families have an extra special Christmas. Thank you!

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 parents looking to purchase second hand uniform you can contact the office or the Wellbeing Team any time, Monday through to Friday. We are happy to make up bags (providing we have the stock) if parents cannot get to the school for our sales.

For any enquiries, please email the Wellbeing Team at

Andre.Campbell@education.vic.gov.au

Sally.Marshall@education.vic.gov.au

Head Lice

This fortnight, we have had only 2 reports of live head lice in the 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.

Wellbeing Service Support

Uniting Child & Family Wellbeing Program, Wednesdays

On Wednesdays, we have Alissa Bayliff from the Family Wellbeing program at Uniting in the school. Alissa is happy to talk to parents about any potential concerns or behaviours with their children. Also, Alissa can support families with parenting strategies and service referrals including family services and online resources for parents. The referral process is straight forward, and Uniting can engage within a reasonable time.

Parents can email Alissa directly at

alissa.bayliff@vt.uniting.org

or contact the Wellbeing Team and we will take you through the steps.

Health Alert-Impetigo “School Sores”

A student has been diagnosed with Impetigo which is commonly known as school sores. If you have not heard of it, Impetigo is a contagious skin infection seen mostly in children, but it may occur at any age. The infection may present with mild irritating blisters that become pustular and erode rapidly, leaving a honey-coloured crust. Cases are treated with an appropriate antibiotic.

For primary schools and children’s services centre exclusions do apply. Children must stay home until 24 hours after starting medical treatment. After this time, they can be around other children again, but cover up their sores completely with dressings. For more information please go to

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

Remember, we do have Maddie, our school nurse working in sick bay and parents can speak to Maddie about any health concerns. I encourage parents to please investigate any potential sickness complaints.

Please encourage your child to practise good personal hygiene by washing hands regularly. It isn’t fun to be sick at school and there are exclusion periods for some health conditions. Don’t forget to tell us of any phone or emergency contact changes so we can reduce your child’s concern if they need to be picked up. In case of a toileting accident please supply a change of underwear in your child’s bag.

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 Exclusion 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 at Recess and Lunchtime

If your child is looking to make friends, have some fun and be creative, tell them they can come to the activity clubs. The clubs run in the main building outside the specialist classrooms and also in the library. The students are enjoying making key chains, bracelets, fidgets and cats eyes, turtles, finger knitting, bookmarks as well as create some amazing Lego builds. Shortly we will begin our Christmas craft activities.

Craft is always looking for donations, especially wool, crochet hooks, craft/haberdashery items and Lego. If you are having a clean out, please feel free to bring your items to the office/wellbeing office.

Activity	Recess	Lunchtime
Monday	Yarn activities, jigsaws, fidgets & colouring	Lego club & sewing club
Tuesday	Yarn activities, jigsaws, fidgets & colouring	Diamond Art club
Wednesday	Yarn activities, jigsaws, fidgets & colouring	Diamond Art club
Thursday	Yarn activities, jigsaws, fidgets & colouring	Lego club & sewing club

Attendance Data-It’s Cool to be at School!

This past fortnight we have celebrated 10 out of 14 students who came to school on their special day. When your child comes to school and it’s their birthday, we are bringing the buzz to make their day even more special. 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!

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.

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.

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.

Advice from school ambassador, Jemima-“It’s okay to get cross with our friends. When you feel annoyed, just go for a walk and take a break”.

Chaplain Requests

The Department of Education has made some changes to the National Student Wellbeing Program in schools. For parents and carers interested, you need to sign a consent form for the chaplain to see your child. Sally is available on Mondays and Wednesdays. If you are interested in your child to see Sally, please email Sally at

Sally.Marshall@education.vic.gov.au

Chaplain Chat

On Friday’s I help coordinate a playgroup. Last year I purchased some parenting resources for our parents to borrow or read while at playgroup. The books I bought are written by Kristen Ivy and Reggie Joiner and they focus on the phases of childhood with the aim to help parents to ‘Make the most of every phase’.

One of their suggestions is to set up a jar filled with 936 marbles to symbolise each week that you parent your child until they turn 18 and begin their adult life. We have a jar at playgroup that we filled with marbles as a reminder to ‘Make the most of each phase’.

I’d like to encourage you as a parent to consider how much time you have before your child turns 18. What could you do each week to help them grow up to become the future adult you envision? What would you like your relationship together to look like when they are all grown up? What about their relationships with their siblings?

Here is a quote from the Parenting Phase books:

“Every phase is a timeframe in a kid’s life when you can leverage distinctive opportunities to influence their future”

Take advantage of each day, they fly by so fast.

Gift Giving Tree

It’s term 4 again and we are preparing for the Christmas Gift Giving tree. This will be set up in November. The Gift Giving Tree is an opportunity for families to be generous to families who struggle to find the money to buy gifts for their children at Christmas. We will let you know when the tree is ready but if you are keen to be involved early, feel free to pop a gift in to the wellbeing room earlier.

Breakfast Club

If your child is in need of breakfast before school please encourage them to stop by to pick up some food so there are no hungry tummies in the classrooms. Breakfast club runs on Monday and Wednesday mornings in the German/Cooking room from 8:15 – 8:45am. Students can enjoy a range of foods, including toast, cereal, canned spaghetti, small UHT milk packs, fruit cups and fresh fruit and warm Milo. We are very thankful to our lovely parents who help out with the preparation of food at breakfast club.

Food Pantry

The food pantry is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons between 2:30 and 3:30pm. Please note the pantry will close early on Monday’s. We have a range of foods, including gluten and lactose free items and on Wednesday’s we have fresh carrots and fruit, apples/oranges/pears.

If you are in need of a pantry top up please stop by and pick something up. We also have food hampers available that parents and carers are free to access near the pantry. These boxes have a range of food staples and weigh 11.6kg, so please prepare for that if you intend on taking one home.

Chaplaincy

Sally Marshall – Chaplain, is happy to catch up with your child if you feel they need that extra emotional support during school hours. Sally is available on Monday and Wednesday’s and can be contacted via email

sally.marshall@education.vic.gov.au

or by phone call 5964 7258.