Wellbeing News

Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS)

R U Okay? Day - Thursday 10 September 

R U OK? Day inspires and empowers everyone to meaningfully connect with the  people around them and start a conversation with those in their world who may be struggling with life.

You don't need to be an expert to reach out - just a good friend and a great listener. 

The students will be exploring the R U Okay Day lessons, what a good friend looks like, how to ask R U Okay, support networks and recognising/managing emotions.

The four steps of an R U OK? conversation (often referred to as ALEC) provide a simple framework to help check in on someone who may be struggling:

• 1. Ask R U OK? Pick a good time and place where you can talk privately and comfortably. Be specific about what you’ve noticed (e.g., "You haven't seemed yourself lately") and ask open questions about how they are going.

   

• 2. Listen Listen without judgment and take what they say seriously. Don't rush to fix their problems or offer immediate advice, give them time and space to express how they feel.

   

• 3. Encourage action Help them think about next steps they can take to feel supported. Ask what they think might help, encourage them to connect with trusted family, friends, or health professionals, or offer to help them find support.

   

• 4. Check in Follow up with them after a few days or a week to see how they're doing. This shows that you genuinely care and are continuing to support them through their experience.

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)

Our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) framework continues in our day to day learning, it is an evidence-based, whole-school framework that explicitly teaches, models, and reinforces positive behavioural expectations to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment. 

Each year level is focusing on a specific need in their classes for the remainder of the term. Students are working towards different goals - as a class or level.

This is in response to our data collection based upon when students are showing unexpected behaviours. Our pattern of unexpected behaviour is minor disruption, during learning times. Low intensity interruption of class or school activities; 

• Calling out
• Talking over others
• Making noises during learning time
• Wandering around/ distracting others 
• Tapping pencils/ tables

• Side conversations 

   

Positive classroom habits, like active listening, waiting for a turn to speak and keeping our learning spaces calm, help create a supportive environment where every child can thrive. When students stay focused and respect shared quiet time, they give themselves and their classmates the best opportunity to learn, participate, and succeed. We encourage families to partner with us by talking about these values at home, helping us reinforce the reminder that our actions can lift up the whole group!

To support the students in contributing to a safe, respectful learning environment are trialling a whole class/level reward, where we celebrate the achievements of showing the school PBL values, RESPECT, SAFE, LEARN. 

Congratulations! to the students who have been recognised for showing the expected PBL behaviour focused on in their class

Prep W: Gabriella B

Prep M: Claude L

1D: Aston B

1W: Tara S

2C: Chloe E

2MJ: Georgia F

3B: Jack W

3C: Asher P

4BT: Luca M

4D: Xavier B

5P: Nataljia L

5L: Nico S

6T: Mila K

6G: Chloe L

6M: Abigail N

Sunsmart 

A reminder that from September - April we are sunsmart. The students are reviewing the SunSafety Routine in classes, we encourage families to do the same. 

Students are to bring their own sunscreen and be able to apply this themselves. Roll on is highly recommended!

5/6 Puberty Family Session

On Monday 14 September The Workshop will be running a Puberty Education family session for the 5/6 level from 6:00-7:30pm at school. This session is for parents/carers to attend with their child. The last section of the session (roughly 40mins) is for parents only and so the students will be taken out of the room by staff members. 

The Workshop firmly believes that knowledge is power, especially when it comes to understanding puberty, reproduction and respectful relationships. The comprehensive programs are designed to equip students with the information and skills they need to navigate these critical aspects of their development confidently and respectfully.

While our curriculum covers essential biological concepts/changes that occur during puberty, we encourage families to lead the personal conversations about relationships, body safety and personal values at home. 

The Victorian Curriculum focus is: Level 5/6 Personal, Social and Community Health- Health Education investigate resources and strategies to manage changes and transitions, including changes associated with puberty (VC2HP6P02). Investigate how the portrayal of societal roles and responsibilities can be influenced by gender stereotypes (VC2HP6P03). Describe strategies for seeking, giving or denying consent and rehearse how to communicate their intentions effectively and respectfully across multiple settings (including online and offline) (VC2HP6P07).

5/6 families, you will find further information in the notice sent via the nForma app. 

Better Buddies Day Term 4

On Monday 19 October we will have our Better Buddies/Grandparents/Multicultural Day. The students are welcomed to invite a Grandparent or Special Person to the school to share in the day from 9am - 11am. We will celebrate the special adults in our lives and our cultures, by completing activities and then the adults are invited to a morning tea.Students are welcomed to wear cultural dress or add cultural colour/s to their outfit for the day. 

If you would like to share your cultural traditions with our school on this day please email bdavis@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au