Wellbeing
Wellbeing & Learning Diversity
Welcome to an exciting New Year at Galilee! As the school leaders in Wellbeing and Learning Diversity, we will be working together this year, alongside the whole staff, to ensure the best possible growth in each of our children. Through ensuring that each child is met at his or her point of need in the classroom pand in the playground, we hope to create confident, happy, well-adjusted students who communicate effectively, care about and respect themselves and each other, persist in the face of challenge, and demonstrate resilience in their learning and their lives.
We look forward to working with you in 2019!
Carlo Martello: cmartello@gsmelbournesth.catholic.edu.au
Jane Ferris: jferris@gsmelbournesth.catholic.edu.au
Action Plans
If your child has a Medical Action Plan, can you please send the office an updated copy with a current photo. We will need these by the 15th February.
Programme Support Meetings
Programme Support Meetings (PSGs) will be conducted in Weeks 4 and 5 with parents of identified students in Years 1 to 6. Prep PSG meetings will take place in Weeks 6 and 7. The aim of PSG meetings is to bring together key stakeholders who have relevant knowledge of, and responsibility for, students with additional needs. At Galilee, we value highly the input of parents/caregivers, the primary educators of your children, in goal-setting, planning and catering for your children's individual needs.
At PSG meetings, we:
- collaboratively establish shared goals for identified student’s social, emotional and educational development;
- plan reasonable adjustments to enable the student to access and participate as outlined in his/her Personalised Learning Plan (PLP) and/or Behaviour Support Plan (BSP).
Parents/Carers, if applicable, please look out for your CareMonkey email this week and make a booking for Monday, February 18 or Monday, February 25. Please note that if your child is involved in Dendy Swimming on February 25, you will need to book in on February 18. Looking forward to working with you in preparing your child's Personal Learning Plan!
School Psychologist
Do you find that your child is having emotional or behavioural issues? Are they struggling socially, academically? Galilee now has a registered psychologist to support your child.
Vanessa Lowe is a registered psychologist who specialises in child and adolescent mental health. Her services are provided at the school at NO COST through Medicare bulk billing. She will work collaboratively with you, your child, and the teachers to maximize opportunities for positive growth. onPsych staff are experts in their field. They offer professional help with simple problems like making friends to complex mental health issues, such as:
Dealing with bullying
Fears, phobias & anxiety
Behaviour problems at home and at school
Self-harm, alcohol & substance abuse
Depression
Stress of exams and relationships
Managing anger
Attention deficit & hyperactivity
Social skills
Eating disorders
Grief and loss,
Autism.
If you believe that this might benefit you child, please contact me and request a Parent Pack for further information.
Wellness Incursion
As you’re aware, we began the year with a wellness incursion based on healthy eating and exercise, to set up some good habits in the children from Day 1. During the incursion, the children participated in a round-robin of exercise and healthy food preparation. In one of the groups, the children created the word HEALTHY out of fruit pieces, which they then devoured! Attached, you will find copies of healthy eating cookbooks, including simple recipes the children can follow at home. Enjoy the photos. We’ll include more in our next newsletter.
Gastro
Unfortunately, students across many year levels have been hit with gastro this week. Gastroenteritis is an infection that can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, stomach pains , fever, headaches and loss of appetite. If your child is displaying any of these symptoms, we recommend that you keep them at home. Students should remain home fo a minimum of 24 hours after the symptoms cease.
Book Club
The best gift any parent can give a child is the love of books and the joy and benefits of independent reading for fun. Children who read at home, or are read to, have a head start on reading success in school.
Our school participates in Scholastic Book Club. Up to twice a term, during the school year, I will send home the Book Club catalogue with a different selection of books offered for all ages.
You'll find award-winning books and best sellers, as well as old and new favourites. I recommend them because the books span a wide range of children's reading levels and interests and are inexpensive (some books cost as little as $2).
It is easy to order. The Book Club Loop platform for parents allows you to pay by credit card. Your child's order is submitted directly to school and the books will be delivered to class. You can place your child's order at scholastic.com.au/loop or by using the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
Owning your own books is something special! I hope that you will encourage your child to order books this year. Each order helps earn free books and teaching materials for the classrooms, however there is never any obligation to order. I know of no better way to encourage reading than to allow children to choose the books they want to read.
Issue 1 is out now. Orders due in by the 15th February.
Reading is the key to success.
Carlo Martello
Deputy Principal