Wellbeing Report 

Community Pantry Open Monday & Tuesday, in the Hall Foyer

This week we launched the opening of our community pantry in the foyer near the hall.  On Monday and Tuesday afternoons from 2:30pm-3:30pm, parents and carers can come along and meet Jeanette, our chaplain to pick up some food items.  We have a variety of breakfast staples including long life milk, cereals, soups, rice dishes and fruit.  Food Bank generously supply our Breakfast Club program and they are supplying our community pantry. 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.  There is no charge and we are thrilled that we can extend this support to our Woori community. 

There are many organisations across Yarra Ranges offering support and assistance. For people looking for food relief, CIRE at the Yarra Junction hub, have food parcels and they have free bread on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.  The Yarra Junction hub is open for food relief and they are a Centrelink Access Point. This service can be accessed by appointment where the school Welfare Team can refer families. If you are interested or know of any one you would like to recommend please contact me. During the school holidays, people can enquire directly at CIRE.  They are located next to the Yarra Junction Post Office and they are open Mon-Fri: 9:00am-4:00pm.

Breakfast Club-Monday & Tuesday from 8:15am

Breakfast Club is now up and running every Monday and Tuesday.  This term Food Bank are offering additional deliveries and we are planning more opportunities to increase healthy food education.  We have apples, oranges, pears and carrots in the canteen fridge and the classrooms are encouraged to fill up their bowls as needed.  We can cater for food allergies including lactose and gluten free items. 

Lunches

We have some children complaining that they are starving at break times. If children are hungry this really impacts on their concentration, moods and their learning.  When the weather is cold our bodies burn more energy to stay warm so please talk to your kids and adjust their lunchboxes accordingly. My advice is to always send extra food and then parents can monitor hunger levels and have conversations about nutrition. 

Uniting School Partnership

The Wellbeing Team are forming a partnership with Uniting and 3 local primary schools to potentially offer group activities to help build on strengths, relationships and school connections. 

In previous years we have run the MAT program as an after school activity and we hope to offer this program later in the year.  We will have a trained facilitator and we hope to have some flyers and information to go home to families. This program is a physically active program that combines the basics of behaviour management with the principles of traditional martial arts.  It provides students with a structured opportunity to develop self-control and self-esteem. This program, has been found it to be equally effective with both boys and girls, particularly those who display a lack of impulse control. 

Our aim will be to teach students skills that they will transfer from the martial arts classes to other classes as well as to their behaviour in the schoolyard, at home, and in the community. 

The program focused on teaching

• How to identify various feelings.
• Appropriate ways to respond to these feelings.
• How to self-invest to achieve a positive future.

The students will have opportunities to experience success and the program works around four basic teachings:

• Be Strong.
• Be Calm.
• Be Kind.
• Try Hard.

We hope to bring more information soon.  Please let me know if you would like to learn more about these programs. 

Head lice Update

This year parents have been doing an excellent job monitoring and treating their children for head lice. This week head lice have been found on a student in the junior school.  All families need to continue to be vigilant and screen their children’s hair.  Please notify the office or tell your child’s teacher when you treat your child so lice alert notifications can be lodged on COMPASS. Reminder.  Any child found with live lice will be excluded from school until they are treated. 

State School Relief

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

Don’t forget about second Hand Uniform!

Thank you to the many families who continue to purchase second hand uniform. We currently have a lot of school jumpers and summer dresses in stock and Jeanette and I can help you out when our Community Pantry is open. Parents and carers can purchase items from $5.00 each or 3 for $10.00.  All monies raised are invested back into the school and the welfare programs which support our students.  Please keep those clothing donations coming!

Playgroup at Woori Yallock Community House

For parents interested in joining playgroup our local Woori Yallock Community House is running a program on Monday mornings from 10:00am-11:30am.  There is an eligibility criteria so parents need to register at, Yarra Ranges Supported Playgroups Ph: 1300 368 333

2022 Free Happy Families Membership

 Here is a quick tip video from Dr Justin Coulson around dealing with screen time.   If you found this tip useful and would like to see more of Justin's parenting tips and strategies, don't forget that our school is subscribed to Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families School Membership. 

The membership offers monthly live webinars and with Justin, quick tip videos, weekly inspirational emails and the video library which is the full back catalogue of all of Justin's parenting webinars from Little People, Big Feelings and Building Resilience to webinars on raising teenage girls and teenage boys and A Parent's Guide to Raising an ADHD Child, and many many more.  All of these resources are based on positive psychology methodologies to support children and get them to thrive. 

If you are yet to sign up, please do so here. 

Craft Club at Lunchtimes, German Room

1:40pm Monday, Wednesday & Friday Junior School 

1:40pm Tuesday & Thursday Middle/Senior School 

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, students can find us where we will be teaching 

pom pom making, plaiting friendship bracelets, weaving cat’s eyes, pipe cleaner craft, finger and French knitting. 

Our older students come along on Tuesdays and Thursdays and we are working on dream catchers, French knitting and macramé . 

We are still looking for donations of wool and other haberdashery items including ribbon, embellishments, buttons and charms or anything that can add a bit of bling to our projects.   All extra pairs of hands are welcome, if you are interested in helping please let me know. 

Playtime-Approaching & Joining In 

Many social situations involve an element of risk. When we interact with others we risk being embarrassed, feeling inadequate and failing.  Shy people will often avoid social settings rather than risk feeling inept. The best way to develop social confidence is by taking those risks and discovering that these/other feelings can’t destroy you. Mostly social risk-taking leads to success especially when students are taught the skills first. 

 Tips-

• Look for people who seem friendly, who are by themselves or in small groups. Don’t approach large groups, they are usually harder to join in. 
• Stand near them and wait for a good moment to ask, for example a pause in the game or conversation. Don’t barge straight in. Think about something friendly about the game. 
• Smile, look in their eyes and say hello.  Use their name if you know it. Don’t have a sad look on your face or look down at the ground. 
• Ask if you can join in or play. Don’t try to take over the game or conversation.  Take turns talking and listening. It’s okay if they say no.
• Go and ask another person or, ask the yard duty teacher to help you. 

Health update 

For some people getting over their mild COVID-19 symptoms, they may experience lingering fatigue, breathlessness and generally not feeling 100%.  I encourage parents to check in with their children and talk through any health complaints or worries. 

School Holiday Art Program 

Bec Fillponi is an accredited Mental Health Social Worker is offering a school holiday Art Program where children from ages 6-12 can learn to express and regulate big feelings through Art. All bookings are made through website at : https://beaconis.com.au/shop/

All the Feels School Holiday Art Program:

Tuesday 28th June: Montrose Community Hall

9:30am - 12:30pm  Session 1

1:00pm - 4:00pm  Session 2

Wednesday 29th June: Coldstream Community Centre

9:30am - 12:30pm  Session 1

1:00pm - 4:00pm  Session 2

$15 per session.

Book Sale: Therapeutic Story Books for Children

Bec is chopping nearly 20% off all of her story books. These therapeutic story books are created to support children understand and explore their resilience, identity, self-care and connection to others. You can check them out on Bec’s website. 

Parenting Session: Helping Children Through Big Emotions

June 14th  2:15-3:15pm

At Yarra Junction Primary School.

Gold coin donation.

Book Launch: Maddie The Meerkat and the Big Stormy Cloud

Monday June 27th at 11:00am

At Yarra Junction Library.

Meet the author and illustrator, hear the stories and learn tips on creating your own story books-Admission is free. 

Oonah COVID-19 Children’s Vaccinations 

Oonah have organised dates for the Vaccination bus to visit where they will offer free COVID-19 vaccinations to children. For Koorie families looking to make a booking please call Oonah on 59622940.

Oonah Playgroup 

This term Oonah have started playgroup over at the Healesville Community Link (library). Playgroup will run on Thursdays from 11:00am-12:00pm.  If you are interested in meeting other families with young children please give Emily a call to register on 59 62 2940.