Wellbeing
Mindfulness Lunch Time Program
Each Monday lunch time in the well being centre, I have the privilege of running a mindfulness program for an amazing bunch of gorgeous Year 8 girls.
Each term we have a different focus. Term 1 we looked at gratefulness and the things in our lives we are grateful for and that give us joy. Term 2 we are looking at our strengths. Each week, someone volunteers to be in our ‘strength circle’ and all the other students share a strength they see in that person or anything they like about the person. This is written on a sheet for them to take with them. Our goal is by the end of the term that each person in the group will be able to confidently say 10 things that they like about themselves.
Some of the girls love nothing more that to colour in and love to do that each week and chat. Others like to participate in the different activities we have each week. Over the year, we have made vision boards, played board games, made stars for domestic violence , talked about the emotions that come up for us in different situations while we made glitter jars and done meditations. Throughout it all we have fantastic discussions and I am impressed with the girl’s sensitivity to others, openness, and willingness to embrace new ideas and to grow in themselves.
Here is what some of the girls say about the program:
“I like this group because it makes me me feel good and happy about myself and I won’t be judged”
Nidhi and Holly
“On Monday afternoon, a rough estimate of 10-15 girl gather eagerly in the meeting room of the wellbeing Centre. It is a place of safety, security and peace. Where everyone is in harmonious, happiness and appreciation. Of all the places we could be on Monday afternoons; rain, hail or shine, we flock like seagulls to feel equal and accepted as well as calm and mindful. “
Catlin
This group makes me feel happy. I feel like I can be myself in this group. It is a nice group of girls”
Lily
Gail Ackroyd
Student Chaplain
Reachout
Information and advice on issues such as bullying, sex and communication was launched today by leading online youth mental health organisation ReachOut Australia.
The service is being made available after research undertaken by ReachOut revealed that the issues of most concern to parents with teenagers are communication, peer pressure, and school and study stress.
ReachOut.com/Parents is a free online service providing evidence-based practical support and tips that encourage effective communication and relationships between parents and young people aged 12–18 years, as well as easy-to-read information on a range of mental health and wellbeing issues. A key feature of ReachOut Parents is a peer-to-peer forum where parents can connect with each other to share experiences in an anonymous, supportive space.
‘Parenting teenagers is more complex than ever,’ ReachOut CEO Jono Nicholas said. ‘This is the first generation of parents who’ve had to deal with issues like their kids’ social media use, cyberbullying and when their kids should get their first mobile phone.
‘Today’s parents are also very time-poor, and are increasingly turning online for information and advice. While there’s lots of online help out there for parents of babies and toddlers, we have found that there isn’t much support for parents of teenagers, which is when parenting can become much more complicated.
FREE MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM
Maroondah Youth Services is supporting a free Martial Arts short course during Term 2 for young people aged 18 - 25. Classes will largely focus on a set of physical self-defence activities and will involve physical contact and holding, so please ensure potential participants are comfortable with this. All self-defence breakaway techniques will be conducted in a safe and controlled manner under the direct supervision of a registered trainer. As this is a short program, we ask that participants are able to attend all 4 sessions to ensure that they are adequately learning the techniques and are not missing vital training information.
Classes will be run on Wednesdays (1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd of June) from 6 - 7:15pm at EV's Youth Centre, 212 Mt. Dandenong Rd, Croydon.
Registration is essential and places are secured by completing all attached documents and emailing to annette.picone@maroondah.vic.gov.au
Please refer to the attached program flyer for more information
Annette Picone
Youth Programs Worker