Wellbeing

Welcome to 2025!

Starting a new school year can be difficult for a wide variety of reasons. There are new classrooms to explore, new routines to establish, new friendships to make, old friendships to maintain and new teachers to get familiar with. All these things can be great causes of stress for children and can make navigating the beginning of the school year tricky and overwhelming. 

There are many things you can do to help your child have a successful transition into 2025:

Communicate – Talk with your child and let them know that it may not be easy to start with. Give them time and space to express their concerns and feelings. What is it that they are worried about? Can you come up with some possible solutions together?

Focus on Positives - Talk about the fun things in a new school year like building new friendships, learning new things, or exciting activities they’ll get to do such as camps or excursions. 

Be on Time – Arriving at school prior to the bell provides students with enough time to relax, find their friends and separate from family without feeling the added pressure of a time crunch. 

Arrange Playdates - If they know their classmates, setting up playdates before school starts or on weekends to explore new friendships and maintain ones from previous years. 

Talk About Making Friends - Role-play scenarios about introducing themselves or joining in games. Discuss inclusion and how to invite people to join games who look like they might not have anyone to play with. 

Establish a Morning Routine – By having a list or simple plan ready each morning of the tasks that need to be accomplished, you can limit the number of unknowns and amount of stress on all family members. It may even be an option to do some of the tasks prior to going to bed such as packing bags, putting shoes and socks at the door, getting clothes out and ready, etc. 

Encourage Self-Advocacy - Teach your child how to ask for help if they’re confused or nervous about something at school. Encourage them to ask questions and follow up on task expectations. Remind them that asking for help is not a bad thing and no one is going to be cross for asking clarifying questions. 

Encourage Independence – If they are able, have your child pack and carry their own bag and allow them to walk into the classroom by themselves. If this is a challenge, perhaps seek out some friends for them to walk in with. 

Share Concerns - If your child has specific challenges or needs, let the teacher know early. The earlier we understand our students, the earlier we can seek out additional support and extra resources. 

Classroom teachers are experts in navigating transition periods for our students and have many strategies to ease nervousness and tension that might arise when entering a new school year. We are also fortunate enough to have a wide variety of support staff here at VPS who can assist when students are going through a difficult period. 

If you are at all concerned about how your child has settled in to the 2025 year or have any other concerns about their mental health and wellbeing, please reach out. I am contactable via the office or email – louise.jarvis@education.vic.gov.au

Have a lovely weekend

Louise Jarvis