Wellbeing

Wellbeing Focus for Week 1 - Gratitude/Appreciation

 

Gratitude is about being aware of and thankful for the good things that happen in your life. 

It can be a positive emotion you experience in a particular moment, like being thankful when someone holds the door open for you. However, it can also be a way of life, like regularly appreciating the important things and meaningful people in your life. Although gratitude comes more naturally to some people than others, we can all choose to be grateful. Research shows that gratitude protects us from stress and helps us focus on what we do have instead of what we don’t have, helping us to enjoy our life experiences to a greater extent. People who regularly experience and express gratitude tend to be more satisfied with their lives, have stronger emotional connections with others, and give back to society more.

Gratitude can be nurtured and developed into a habit. We can model gratitude to our children by spending time with them, by being present and thanking those who are kind. We can teach our students to be grateful by encouraging them to notice the good things, to connect with what matters in their lives and to thank others for the kind things they do.

 

Introducing the Warrnambool Primary School Council Wellbeing Subcommittee 2023

 

Wellbeing Teacher - Tonya Ferguson

Days of work Monday to Thursday 

The state government’s roll out of the school mental health menu funds have allowed us to employ a ‘wellbeing teacher’ in 2023 who will:

  • Promote Positive Mental Health within the entire school community.
  • Support the implementation of mental health and wellbeing, through face to face teaching of students in the classroom.  
  • Enable schools to provide early intervention to support students who may be at risk or disengagement or mental health concerns, through individual or group work, guided by the need of the students. 
  • Provide targeted and more individualised support for students who need it, through programs offered in school and referrals to services and supports available in our community. 
  • Provide support to classroom teachers and school leadership in the development and management of required Individual Support Plans that promote both staff and student wellbeing. 

Student Wellbeing and Counsellor- Jess White

Days of work Monday, Tuesday and Friday

Is a qualified social worker whose role at Warrnambool Primary School is varied, with an overall my aim to ensure every student’s wellbeing is supported and advocated for. 

To do this Jess will; 

  • Enhance the capacity to develop positive and engaging school culture and to support students who are at risk of disengagement and not achieve their educational potential. 
  • Conduct one-on-one counselling for students for a variety of reasons, individual to student needs. These sessions promote positive mental health and wellbeing.
  •  When required complete or support families with referrals to services including mental health services, CAMHS, DFFL, orange door, psychologists, family violence services and more. 
  • To focus on priorities, particularly in tackling bullying and supporting students with mental health or welfare issues.
  • To support a case management approach to student interventions, including participating in student support groups and conduct follow ups.
  • To work in partnership with school and community-based and students support services and networks to develop programs that promote health and wellbeing.

Other representatives for the Wellbeing Sub-Committee 2023 

Foundation- Julie Giblin

Grade 1/2- Edwina Medro

Grade 3/4 - TBC

Grade 5/6 - Lidia Allen 

Koorie Engagement Officer- Gina Mills 

First Aid- Gaye Welsh

 

The Wellbeing Committee hold monthly meetings and strive to support Warrnambool Primary School to be somewhere that every staff, student and community member can flourish, through inclusive education. 

We can be contacted via the school office on (03) 5561 5955, if you would like to speak with a member of the Wellbeing Sub-Committee.

 

Every Day Counts 

Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education. Students learn new things at school every day – missing school puts them behind. Below is some information and tips on how to help your child.