Wellbeing
2024
Welcome and welcome back to all families - we are very excited about this year and developing and supporting the wellbeing of everyone in our space.
You will see some returning incentives such as Peaceful Kids, our morning meeting place and lunchtime activities, along with some new programs that we have worked on behind the scenes during 2023.
The first program we would like you to know about is;
About MHiPS
In 2020 the Centre for Community Child Health at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) partnered with the Melbourne Graduate School of Education (MGSE) at the University of Melbourne to conceptualise the MHiPS initiative to build the capacity of schools to support the mental health and wellbeing of students.
Developed by paediatricians, educators, psychologists, researchers, and teachers, the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) program upskills experienced teachers to become Mental Health and Wellbeing Leaders and aims to increase the capacity of Victorian primary schools to support the mental health of their students.
The model comprises a Mental Health Wellbeing Leader (MHWL) role (an experienced educator) and an evidence-based training program.
The MHWL Role
The role of the MHWL is to build the capability of the whole school about mental health and wellbeing (identification, promotion and prevention), provide support to staff to better identify and support students with mental health needs, establish clear pathways for referral for students requiring assessment and intervention, and monitor and evaluate student progress.
** The MHWL role it is not a clinical role (such as a counsellor or psychologist) and is not designed for direct intervention. The role is designed to provide a proactive focus for the promotion and prevention of mental health and wellbeing.
How does this look at St Joseph's?
Jessica Carmichael has been appointed to the MHWL role for St Joseph's.
Training will begin in mid February and the direction of the role will be developed during this time.
The second program that we are thrilled to be partnering with is;
Some of you may be aware of who Hugh van Cuylenburg is. In short, he is the Founding Director of The Resilience Project, a teacher and a passionate advocate for children to discover the 'GEMs' in the world they live in to develop into amazing humans.
His own journey inspired him to give back to the world and he has gifted us with wisdom, understanding and evidence based research.
TPR Mission
To teach positive mental health strategies to help people become happier
Why?
- 1 in 4 adolescents have a mental illness
- 1 in 7 primary schools kids have a mental illness
- 1 in 5 adults will experience mental ill-health throughout the year
- 65% of adolescents do not seek help for mental illness
Returning in 2024...
The 'Peaceful Kids' program is a Mindfulness and Positive Psychology based program to lessen anxiety and stress and increase resilience in children. This program helps children to build their emotional resilience so they are better equipped to deal with the day to day stresses that life brings them.
Parents will be contacted shortly for Term 1 participant intake.
Have you noticed that Morning Meeting Place and Lunch Time activities have a new home?
These are now located in the WELLBEING ROOM - next to the library.
- Morning Meeting Place operates everyday from 8:30am - 8:50am
- Lunch Time activities operate Tuesday and Thursday 11:00am - 11:30am
Courage & Crowns is coming to St Joseph's to work with girls in Grades 4 - 6.
Megan worked with our senior girls in 2023 and we are looking forward to her returning in 2024.
