Leadership Report

Michelle Carland - Disability and Inclusion Leader

MINDFULNESS

Did you know …

We spend 49% of our waking hours thinking about something other than what we’re doing!

Regular mindfulness practice can improve our:

                ●      Immune system.

                ●      Energy levels.

                ●      Sleep quality.

                ●      Awareness.

                ●      Memory.

                ●      Productivity.

Why don’t you give it a go. Find a mindfulness activity that suits you and that you enjoy, everyone is different. Below are some suggestions:

                 ●      Listening to music.

                 ●      Exercise (eg: walking).

                 ●      Colouring.

                 ●      Puzzles.

                 ●      Meditation.

                 ●      Yoga.

EMOTIONAL LITERACY

Did you know …

                ●      There are 27 main human emotions.

                ●      We experience at least 1 emotion 90% of the time.

                ●      And frequently experience positive & negative emotions at the same time.

If you’re interested in learning more about Emotional Literacy check out ‘The Imperfects podcast’. In the below episode Dr Emily talks about the concept of Emotional Awareness, and explains why it’s not only important to identify your unpleasant emotions, but why it's even more important to express them when they arise.

Dr Emily - you are Not Your Emotions

Below is a link to more of ‘The Imperfects’ podcast episodes on The Resilience Project website or you can listen wherever you listen to your podcasts.

https://theresilienceproject.com.au/at-home/podcasts/

Kind regards,Michelle Carland

Disability Inclusion Leading Teacher

Costa Missailidis - Wellbeing and Engagement Leader

Coburg High School Transition Ride

The partnership between Merri-bek Primary School and Coburg High School continues to strengthen as our Year 6 students, who will be attending Coburg High in 2025, had the opportunity to participate in a bike ride excursion. This experience was designed to help them familiarise themselves with road rules, routes to and from the school, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the school environment, timetables, structure, and other key aspects for a smooth transition.

Students departed Merri-bek Primary School at 10:30am, accompanied by Tori, Belinda and Costa, staff from Coburg High as well as former Merri-bek Primary students. The ride to Coburg High was enjoyable and, upon arrival, Year 7 students led a tour of the school, showcasing classrooms, teacher offices, specialist areas, and, most importantly, the canteen! Students received an overview of the timetable, class schedules, and other essential details to support their transition.

Following the tour, students participated in another bike ride around the back of the school to learn about additional entry points and popular routes for commuting to and from school.

They also had the opportunity to visit the canteen, where they were delighted by the wide variety of food options. During lunch, students explored the school grounds, meeting old friends and discovering popular hangout spots.

The return ride to Merri-bek Primary School was a great opportunity for students to further develop their road awareness and experience Coburg’s many bike lanes. A huge thank you to Tori, Belinda, and Costa for accompanying the students on this valuable excursion.

Cricket Gala Day

On Friday, 1st November, over 50 Grade 5 and 6 students participated in a Cricket Gala Day centred on participation, fun, and skill development. Students were introduced to the Cricket Blast format, playing in teams of 8–10 and participating in 4–5 games against other schools. With no scores being recorded, the emphasis was on key aspects of sport such as sportsmanship, encouragement, trying new skills, and, most importantly, having fun. Well done to all the students, and a big thank you to Simon, Tori, Jacinta, and Costa for providing this wonderful experience to our students!

Regional Hot Shots Championship

After winning the Division Hot Shots Finals on Wednesday, 30th October, a big congratulations goes out to the Bat Tennis team for qualifying for the Regional Hot Shots Championship that was held on Friday, 8th November. The day included a round-robin format where the team faced two other schools in hopes of reaching the grand final.

Both matches were close contests, but ultimately, the team narrowly missed the grand final, losing 5 sets to 8 in both games. 

Despite this, Sathya, Adil, Shaurya, Paris, Marcel, Tino, Arlo, Ahmad, Declan, and Archie should be commended for their hard work and dedication. Their consistent practice during lunch and recess paid off, leading them to victory in both games at the Division Finals and a strong performance at the Regional Finals.

Joe Hess - Maths Learning Specialist 

https://www.lovemaths.me/games 

Love Maths is a fantastic resource for making numeracy fun and engaging for kids.  It utilizes gamification and offers a wide range of age-appropriate games that cover essential math concepts. The interactive nature of the games allows students to learn by doing and receive immediate feedback, reinforcing their understanding.  Love Maths helps to improve problem-solving skills by encouraging critical thinking and strategic approaches.  It's a great tool for parents to support classroom learning.

Let me know which games you like best 

Joseph Hess

Maths Learning Specialist