Wellbeing Report
Dear parents, caregivers, and guardians,
We hope this newsletter finds you well!
Can you believe we are already halfway through term 2? Where is the year going!
We wanted to take a moment to update you on some of the mental health and wellbeing supports that the school is providing to our students. We understand the importance of promoting mental wellness and are committed to providing resources and a safe space for our students to self-regulate and take care of their mental health.
One of the initiatives we have implemented is the introduction of two goldfish, named Jerry and Berry. Our students have named and already started caring for our new friends. Caring for pets can have a positive impact on mental health and can promote feelings of responsibility and connection. Our students have been enjoying spending time with the goldfish and learning about the importance of caring for living creatures. They also have lots of other benefits including being therapeutic and making people feel calmer just by watching live fish for five minutes. As mentioned, it teaches responsibilities like cleaning the tank, feeding the fish, and learning about science, and ways of explaining aquatic life.
If you would like to take care of our goldfish during the school holidays, we will supply food and the tank, just reach out to us as we will have a rotating roster. We have lots of keen and interested students. Our students have discovered that the fish tank dimensions are:
Length 36.8cm
Height 26.3cm
Width 23.5cm
Capacity 20 litres.
This fish tank would look lovely on any bench top!
Additionally, the wellbeing hub is a place where students can come when they need to self-regulate. It is equipped with resources such as puzzles, reading books, colouring and art supplies, and white noise aromatherapy. Students are encouraged to use these resources as tools to help them relax and centre themselves during moments of stress and anxiety.
Our teachers and support staff are available to chat with students and provide them with the necessary support and guidance. We believe that creating a supportive and understanding environment is key to promoting positive mental health among our students.
We encourage you to have an open conversation with your children about mental health and the importance of taking care of their wellbeing. If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Together we can work towards creating a healthy and supportive school community for our students.
Here are some parenting resources for you to have a look at. Most are free and are researched and evidence based:
Triple P
Online program, research-backed | Positive parenting strategies | Triple P (triplep-parenting.net.au)
Relationships Australia
Child parenting courses | Relationships Australia Victoria (relationshipsvictoria.org.au)
McKillop family services
Parenting Education | MacKillop Family Services
The Australian Parenting website
Victoria: parenting & family services | Raising Children Network
Warm regards,
The Wellbeing Team.