Thrive & Flourish
Wellbeing Newsletter:
Welcome back everyone to the start of the 2026 school year. We hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday break.
Wellbeing Team 2026.
My name is Tony McDonald I will be continuing to work in the area of Wellbeing at Sacred Heart.
Jess Daniel joins us this year at Sacred Heart to work also in the area of wellbeing and student support. Jess will be at Sacred Heart on Wednesdays this year.
Collectively as a team, we can assist students and families with improving their emotional health and wellbeing to build resilience, enhance coping skills for emotions and increased participation in school.
We can also offer short term support with information and referrals for parents, longer-term support for families facing complex issues and group programs during school time focused on self-esteem, social skills or grief and loss.
We welcome any emails or calls if families wish to seek support and can be contacted via email at any time or a phone call to school.
Email:
Tony McDonald: tmcdonald@shtatura.catholic.edu.au
Jess Daniel: jdaniel@shtatura.catholic.edu.au
If ever you need help sorting out personal or family issues, give CatholicCare Victoria a call. They offer many services to all members of our community – ALL FREE.
Student Attendance:
At Sacred Heart, most students come to school regularly and as a result are learning new skills socially, academically and emotionally. This is an expectation and a right that we would like to see enacted for every student.
We know that coming to school on time every day is a necessary condition for learning to occur. Students who attend school every day benefit from all of the support and teacher assistance that is available, and are much more likely to go ahead in their learning.
Being ready to begin the day's learning with the rest of the class is also very important and we ask for your support in ensuring that students are in their classes by the beginning of day bell. Being prepared for the day, and starting with peers, encourages a great day of learning and helps with organisational details of the day.
Parents/guardians are responsible for making sure that all children attend school every day unless they are too unwell, in which case the school must be advised.
Back to school time is always a bit scary and can be a huge thing for some kids. It is a big transition, not only for children but for parents too.
Your child may be filled with excitement and notions on what it is going to be like. They may experience first-day jitters and some nervousness. Meanwhile, parents are filled with thoughts of “Am I ready? Do I have everything I need?”
To help reduce those thoughts and help you and your child prepare for the new school year we have come up with some tips.
· Sleep routine. To help lessen those stressful school mornings, set up a regular bedtime and morning time routine. This will help your child prepare for each day at school.
· Talking with your child about their first few days at school is an easy way to support them. Talk about:
*their first day,
*what they enjoyed at school/what was a challenge,
* how to make friends,
* your happy memories of starting back at school after the holiday
break.
Your child may have mixed feelings about starting a new school year. You can support your child’s wellbeing by talking about how they are feeling and why this might be.
· Reading with your child is special. You are bonding with your child and supporting their growth. Sharing books with your child:
* builds their reading skills.
* builds their language.
* encourages a lifelong love of reading.
* grows their understanding of the world.
·
Your Child explores the world through play. Play supports your
child’s learning. Encourage your child to explore their world by:
*making time to talk, read and relax.
*doing a puzzle.
*playing a game.
*listening to your child’s favourite song and dancing.
*digging in the garden.
*going to the park.
*going for a walk/bike ride together.
· Help your child’s new teacher get to know your child. Your child’s teacher can then support your child’s learning, social and emotional needs.
· Building independence is an important skill for children to learn, especially when
it comes to school. Part of their day at school is learning to look after their things and follow daily routines. Organising belongings, packing school bags, checking they have everything they need for each day, are important skills learnt at home that help to build greater independence in children.
Hopefully the transition into the new school year is a smooth and happy time for all children. If you have any concerns, please contact your child’s teacher, or a member of the Wellbeing team to follow up.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy fortnight ahead.
Tony and Jess.
Help Your Child Navigate Emotions When They Return to School
We hope you enjoyed a well-deserved break over the holiday season. As the festive period comes to a close and your child thinks is returning to school, you might want to help them practice letting go of unhelpful thoughts.
They could think that a friend doesn't like them and are nervous about seeing them again. Perhaps they think they're not good enough to participate in fun games and break times. Maybe they're worried about trying new things or being back in a noisy classroom or even a new teacher!
Early in the Secret Agent Society Small Group Program, Cadets/Students practice identifying unhelpful thoughts and learn how to focus on ones that make them feel happier, calmer, and braver. They unlock tools and gadgets for identifying thoughts that hold them back and discover new ways to refocus on what to do next, like asking for help or wearing their headphones.
Thought tracking is a tool they could use time and time again throughout their lives!
We are currently planning our 2026 SAS program at Sacred Heart and information will be coming out soon!
It is scheduled to start in Term 2 for students in grades 3-6.
If you haven’t already expressed your families interest please email or talk to Felicity, Tony
or Debbie (Turvey).
Have a great week!
Debbie