Wellbeing Report 

How Much Sleep Do Children Need? 

• Babies: at least 15 hours sleep and up to 20 when they are very young
• Toddlers & Pre-schoolers (1 - 5): about 12 to 14 hours sleep
• Primary School: about 10 to 12 hours sleep
• High School: at least 8 hours but up to 10 hours sleep

Many children regularly complain when they come to school that they are tired, couldn’t get to sleep or they had a late night.  This impact on their ability to tune in, retain their learning and can affect their relationships and problem solving skills.  As adults we understand how we are affected when we are over tired and I would like to encourage parents to actively have reasonable expectations about bedtime routines. 

It is not unusual for children to have night-time worries, which can prevent them from getting to sleep easily.  Whatever the cause of the bedtime problems, it is important that families adopt (and stick to) clear rules about a bedtime routine.  It's important to discuss and agree on a sleep strategy for your child with your partner beforehand and work together as a team to carry it out consistently. 

If you are starting a new sleep routine for your child, make them a part of the team by explaining the new plan to them if they are old enough to understand. For a young child, try using a picture chart to help your child learn the new routine, showing actions like changing clothes, brushing their teeth and reading a book.

Praising your child and reinforcing good behaviour will also help to improve bedtime problems. There are a number of strategies that can help them overcome their night-time worries. There are many APP’s available for parents to download such as Smiling Minds, Calm and Head Space. Many parents also recommend playing soft or meditation music helps too.

Smile Squad - Free Dental Program for Schools

Last week we gave out free dental packs from the Smile Squad. Smile Squad is a Victorian Government program that provides free dental care to all primary, secondary and specialist school students enrolled in government schools across Victoria. We hope you all enjoyed getting your pack in a fun and practical drink bottle. The packs have all the tools your child needs for good oral health including toothpaste, a toothbrush and a brochure full of helpful hints and tips to have a healthy smile. I am hoping to book the dental van later in the year once our new school building is open. If you missed out on getting a pack please ask the Wellbeing team.  For more information about the dental program please visit the Smile Squad website-www.smilesquad.vic.gov.au

Head Lice Update 

Great job parents! We continue to have low numbers of live head lice cases in the school. We continue to ask parents to work with us to keep our reports low and to continue to treat and monitor your children’s hair. Please notify the office or tell your child’s teacher when you treat your child so lice alert notes can issued on COMPASS.  Reminder-any child found with live lice will be excluded from school until they are treated. 

Glasses for Kids Program: Students in Preps-Grade 3

Tuesday 22nd - Friday 24th March

We are pleased to say we have 182 students signed up to be screened in the Glasses for Kids program. Next week, we will have two optometrists visit the school from Tuesday 22nd of March through to Friday the 24th of March. Due to the high number of students registered, are planning extra dates for the optometrists to come back and complete the screening program. If you have any questions, please let me know. 

DET School Nurse Program- Preps School Entry Health Checks 

The RSVP date for the health referral packs has been extended to Monday the 20th of March.  For parents who have not returned their pack it’s not too late! The DET Primary Nurse, Sarah Torsello is booked to come out on Tuesday the 28th of March.  

Activities at Lunchtime in the German Room 

Monday & Tuesday-Craft Club 

Thursday-Lego Club 

Friday-Bring Your Device to School 

This week, craft club and Lego club are running at lunchtime in the German room.  If your child is looking to make new friends, please remind them we these clubs organised and it’s a great way to have some fun and be creative.  On Fridays students can bring their own device to school where they can sit and play at recess and lunchtime outside the staffroom.

In craft club we are making paper people, dream catchers, pom poms and cat’s eyes.

Fortunately, families have donated Lego which has increased our supply and we are excited to be able to run Lego club.  We are collecting the Woolworths Farm Bricks and the students will start building our very own Woori Farm.   We aim to share double ups with the kids so they can continue to build their own at home. 

Chaplain Requests

The Department of Education has made some changes to the National Student Wellbeing Program in schools. For parents and carers interested, you need to sign a consent form in order for Jeanette Nortcliffe to see your child. 

Food Bank Cooking Classes 

 Last week, the cooking class had a great time making rice paper rolls. There are 3 more cooking class sessions organised and the wellbeing team are thrilled to see families prepping food and cooking together.  For interested parents who have missed out but would like to learn more, please speak to Jeanette.   

Attendance & Absences

We encourage parents and carers to refer to COMPASS for information happening at school. Schools are required to work towards IMPROVING THE ATTENDANCE and PUNCTUALITY RATES of our students. When your child is going to be away parents and carers need to notify the school through COMPASS. This really helps us as we are able to communicate effectively with all relevant staff early in the school day. 

Attendance Data 

Over the time a child attends school, having 1 or 2 days absence does not seem like much but it does add up and can impact on missed learning opportunities.

Breakfast Club-Monday & Tuesday 8:15am in the German Room

Breakfast Club is running every Monday and Tuesday and it’s fantastic to see the students walking to class with their toast and milk. Jeanette, Sandy and our team of volunteer parents offer a selection of choices including toast, cereal, spaghetti and baked beans, fruit cups and milk boxes.  We have apples, oranges, pears and carrots in the canteen fridge and the classrooms are encouraged to fill up their bowls as needed. Parents are most welcome to walk their children down to check out the range of choices that will be offered. Please try to drop your child off by 8:30am to avoid disappointment, Breakfast Club must close at 8:45am in order for the classrooms to start. 

Lunches

Some students are complaining they have eaten all their food in their lunch box and staff have been making sandwiches. Please check in with your child and see whether or not they are needing a bit more to eat. We find that when children are hungry it really impacts on their concentration, moods and their learning. My advice is to always send extra food and then parents can monitor hunger levels and have conversations about nutrition. Pack food which is easy for kids to open and eat and also speak to them about your expectations. 

Community Pantry Monday & Tuesday-Hall Foyer

This week Jeanette attended her Chaplain’s Conference and we did not open the Food Bank cupboard on Tuesday. Our apologies if you came by. We will open the pantry on Friday afternoon so please drop by and see Kristy. We have a variety of breakfast staples including long life milk, cereals, soups, rice dishes and fruit. All families will need to do is bring their own bags.  If you know someone going through a rough patch please reach out and let the Wellbeing Team know. We now have food hampers pre packed and we can quickly make collection arrangements. There is no charge and we are thrilled that we can extend this support to our Woori community. 

Second Hand Uniform

For parents looking to purchase second hand uniform you can contact the office or the Wellbeing Team any time. We are happy to make up bags (providing we have the stock) if parents cannot get to the school for our sales. 

Labelled Personal Property 

Our lost property is located in the alcove near the staffroom. If your child loses clothing or lunchboxes these items will find their way to the alcove.  Please make sure your child’s name is clearly labelled and we’ll do our best to return them to the rightful owner. 

State School Relief

We can help families who are experiencing financial hardship to purchase school uniform.  Please see the Wellbeing Team for assistance.