Charlton College School Newsletter

Wellbeing 

Mental Health Month

 

As we look ahead to Term 4, we’d like to remind everyone that October is Mental Health Awareness Month. When planning the school year, we made the intentional decision to focus our energy on this month, rather than spreading activities across the year. Our aim is to bring awareness to what we can all do—staff, students and families alike—to support and strengthen our mental wellbeing.

 

We’ve brainstormed a variety of fun, engaging, and meaningful ways to encourage the flow of dopamine, promote physical wellbeing and highlight small changes we can make to take care of our minds and bodies. These activities are designed to involve the whole school community and to create a positive, connected environment.

Some of the activities planned include:

  • Teacher vs Student Lunchtime Challenges – Music & movement, English, Maths, and Physical Education 

  • Garden/Craft Lunchtime Activities

  • Obstacle Course Challenge

  • Healthy Food Days – supported by local community services

  • Mental Health Awareness & Education sessions 

We will be running one activity each day throughout October, beginning Monday, 6th October (after the school holidays). Please keep an eye out in next week’s Parent’s Bulletin for the calendar of events. Our first event will be a community breakfast on Monday 6th of October beginning at 8:30am prior to Assembly. We welcome all students and their families to join us. More details to come. 

 

Bendigo SpeechWorks

 

Bendigo Speech Works is pleased to inform that Charlton community that we will be providing Speech pathology services in Charlton and the surrounding communities. 

Donna Buxton, a Charlton resident and Speech pathologist, is working with Bendigo Speech Works to provide services to your local region. 

 

Donna will be providing services to people of all ages and servicing areas around Charlton, Wycheproof, Donald and Birchip. 

 

Bendigo Speech Works is a registered NDIS provider and will accept both private clients and participants funded under the NDIS. 

 

Places are limited. If you would like to enquire about this service, please contact Bendigo Speech Works on (03) 5443 9912 or send an email to admin@bendigospeechworks.com.au. 

If you would like to make a referral, please go to the Bendigo Speech Works website and complete a referral form.

 

 

Wellness Hub Psychology

The Mental Health Foundation Australia’s Integrated Wellness Hub psychology clinic offers in-clinic and telehealth counselling services with provisional psychologists/counsellors at an affordable fee of $20 per 50-minute session. 

Appointments are available, enquire via website or contact us on 03 8825 3501 or email: wellness.hub@mhfa.org.au

 

 

Breakfast Club

We are so fortunate to have Danielle running our Breakfast Club Program at Charlton College. Thank you, Danielle, from all the staff, students and families. Breakfast Club enables studebts to begin their day with full tummies ensuring they are at their best to learn. Studies completed by Foodbank (the Organisation would support schools with food!) reported that teachers observed the following of students who participated in the Breakfast Club Program: 

  • an improvement in concentration 

  • greater levels of engagement and focus for students who attend 

  • improvements in student’s social skills 

  • a positive impact on the academic outcomes of students who attended breakfast club.   

 

AS of this week, we will be offering Breakfast Club on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday morning from 8:30am. To ensure Breakfast Club is ready for students to access famillies are reminded that students are not permitted on school grounds until 8:30am when supervision in the yard begins. 

 

We would also like to acknowledge and thank the Charlton Bakery who very generously donate bread to the Breakfast Club program each week. Thank you, Paul and Kerry, for your support!

Mental Health Matters! 

Many people can hesitate to seek mental health support because they’re unsure what options are available or feel intimidated by the idea. Attached to the back of the newsletter is a brochure complied by the Inglewood and District Health Service who provide mental health support in the Buloke Shire. 

Menal Health Services can help with. 

  • Feeling low need to talk 

  • Changes at work or home 

  • Depression, anxiety, stress 

  • Balancing family and work responsibilities 

  •  Concerns about your children or family members 

  •  Relationship and marital problems 

 

The Inglewood and district Health Service are able to provide support to both children and adults at NO COST. The services are offered at the Charlton Hospital campus face to face, via telehealth or phone.

 

If you feel your child may need further support referrals can be made by contacting 

Inglewood and Districts Health Service 

3 Hospital Street, Inglewood, VIC 3517 

Phone: (03) 5431 7000 

Fax: (03) 5431 7004 

Email: referrals@idhs.vic.gov.au 

Monday - Friday: 8:30am-5pm

 

If you would like further support to access this service for your child/ren, please don’t hesitate to contact Jess McGurk or Tash Roberts at the College. 

 

Reach Out Workshops

 

Reach workshops are for anyone aged 10-18. They're 100% youth-led which means they’re always relevant. Workshops are available at Reach hubs and in schools and communities in VIC and NSW.

To learn more please visit https://www.reach.org.au/workshops/

 

Buloke Shire Resources Directory

Mallee Family Care have put together a resource directory for Buloke Shire families with children aged 0-12. The document is attached to the newsletter. If any families wish to access a printed copy, please call into the front office where copies are available.