Wellbeing

Holiday Tips From Georgina Manning

Importance of Chill Out Time each day 

• As well as learning how to relax when there is anxiety present, it is important to also keep anxiety and stress levels low by factoring in time each day to just chillout. As children are often overscheduled and overstimulated through technology, it is vital that there is time to just ‘be’ each day. This can be by playing with a favourite toy, building something, creating artwork, playing with animals, playing a board game, drawing, making cubbies in the garden – the list is endless.
• Point your child in the direction of an activity that makes them feel good when they are also feeling anxious. An activity that is unstructured and free helps children to engage the creative part of their brain which in turn lessens anxiety. If children are used to spending chill out time each day, then it will be familiar to them if they need to calm down when anxious. If they spend a lot of time on technology and little time with creative play, it will be harder to direct them to creative activities when they are feeling stressed.
• It is important to note that chill out time is not time on technology. Although this may appear to be an activity that is relaxing, it is not effective for lessening anxiety or to wind down the brain after a full day of learning at school or after stressful events. Technology at night can also keep children wired up for hours which can affect sleeping patterns.

Online Safety at OLA - Term 4

In today's digital world, it is more important than ever to teach our children how to stay safe online. In Term 4, all year levels will participate in an interactive Inform and Empower session designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.

Each year level will explore age appropriate topics:

• Prep – Digital Agency: Learning this term will focus on screen time and agency. We will focus on comfortable vs uncomfortable feelings and strategies that can help us navigate uncomfortable situations online.
• Grades 1/2 – Digital Detectives: Learning this term will focus on developing critical thinking and digital literacy skills. We will also explore what it means to be kind online.
• Grades 3/4 – Being Safe and Secure: Learning this term will focus on the importance of settings and how they can keep us safe. We will also explore how to identify red flags and navigate unsafe online
• Grades 5/6 – Critical Thinking: Learning this term will focus on being a critical consumer of AI and how influencers can shape our values. We will also explore strategies for navigating unsafe online interactions.

These sessions aim to empower our students to make safe, responsible, and respectful choices whenever they are online.

Teeth on Wheels

This is a friendly reminder that Teeth On Wheels will be returning to our School on October 12th 2026.

Regular dental check-ups are essential for maintaining your child’s oral health, and this convenient school visit means no time off work and no need to schedule external appointments.

During the visit, Teeth On Wheels will assess and help prevent common dental concerns, including:

• Thumb-sucking - which can affect tooth development
• Teeth eruption - ensuring teeth are coming through correctly
• Bite issues - preventing misalignments that may cause future problems
• Hypoplasia - weakened tooth enamel that can lead to decay
• Decay and cavities - catching early signs before they become bigger issues
• Deep grooves and pits - which can trap food and bacteria
• Gum infections - preventing long-term damage to gums and surrounding tissue

If your child has already participated in the program this year, there’s no need to complete the form again unless your contact details or your child’s medical history has changed.

To secure your child’s place, simply complete the e-form by the October 5th 2026.

Just click the LINK!

Shelby Turner

Learning Diversity and Student Wellbeing Leader