THE SIGNAL

From the 

Assistant 

Principal

WHERE CHILDREN LOVE TO BE

I AM GRATEFUL FOR…

Our School Council. We have a fantastic school council, and we have incredibly passionate and dedicated parents who invest their time and energy to ensure that South Melbourne Park Primary is ‘a step ahead’. Without our Councilors and their support we would be unable to do the work that we do. It is worth taking the time to get to know any of the members of our School Council and ask them about their work supporting the school.

CIRCUIT-BREAKER LOCKDOWN

With the new lockdown in place we would like to remind you to take the time to look after yourselves and your family. There are countless resources and support services you can reach out to if you are finding things challenging. We have listed some of these below to help you during this time.

 

Parenting support: It is important to remember that you are not in this alone! These are challenges that we are all experiencing and there are supports out there if you are needing them. Below are some amazing resources you can reach out to if you need them.

  • Raising Children Network – general parenting advice
  • Early Childhood Parenting Support – advice for children aged 0 to 8
  • Stepfamilies Australia – advice on step parenting and the challenges associated with being a step parent
  • Raising Children Network – advice on how to talk about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it impacts  children in Australia
  • Emerging Minds – advice on supporting children during the coronavirus outbreak
  • KidsHealth – how to talk to your child about COVID-19
  • eSafety Office – an online safety kit for parents and carers
  • Parentline (13 22 89) - Parentline is a phone service for parents and carers of children from birth to 18 years old. Parentline offers confidential and anonymous counselling and support on parenting issues. They are open from 8am to midnight, seven days a week including public holidays.
  • Parenting in a Pandemic – Advice on how to handle parenting during lockdown.
  • Positive Parenting Program – A free parenting program that provides simple, practical strategies have been proven to work around the world.
  • Parent Works – A free parenting program that provides evidence-based parenting strategies to improve parenting skills, confidence and child behaviour.
  • Raising Children Website –  Ideas and resources to support school age children with play, media and technology
  • Parent Trapped Podcast – A podcast exploring how to navigate all the challenges of parenting in lockdown.
  • How to survive school closures without flipping your lid – Advice on how to keep your cool and stay in control.

Staying health and positive: It’s important to focus on your family’s social and emotional wellbeing through a period of trauma or change. Use the below resources to explore exercise, activity, dance, mindfulness, gratitude and togetherness over the home learning period.

  • Go Noodle – A website of short movement and dance videos to get children up and moving.
  • Smiling Minds app – A tool developed by psychologists and educators to help bring balance to your life. They include short guided meditations suitable for all ages.
  • Smiling Mind Self-Care Pack – A resource pack from Smiling Minds with supports to care for your own mental health.
  • Calm app – An app that supports sleep, meditation and relaxation.
  • Cosmic Kids website – A website and app provide videos for yoga, stories and fun.
  • We are Teachers website – This website has a lot of self-regulation activities connected to The Zones of Regulation. The official website also has Free Zones Print-ables.
  • Health Direct website – Provides some ideas of healthy things you can do with your family.

Staying safe and connected: It’s important for us to all look out for each other and know who we can share our anxieties and fears with. Use the below resources if you are concerned about the mental or physical health or wellbeing of family and friends.

  • Orange Door – an amazing referral service that will support in finding the right service to support you
  • Safe Steps – support with ending relationships in a sage and respectful manner
  • InTouch – the multi-cultural centre against violence
  • The Kids Helpline – website, web chat phone service and app provide practical help and emotional support at the critical moment they need it
  • Parentline Support Services – website and phone service providing support for navigating parenting concerns (Phone 1300 30 1300)
  • 1800RESPECT – The National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling and information referral service, available 24 hours a day, every day of the year (Phone 1800 737 732)
  • Beyond Blue – Provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live (Phone 1300 22 4636)
  • Lifeline – A national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services (Phone 13 11 14)
  • Nurse on call – A phone service that provides immediate, expert health advice from a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The phone service is for non-emergency health advice only (Phone 1300 60 60 24)
  • Headspace Counselling Services – Headspace provides free online and telephone support and counselling to young people 12 - 25 and their families and friends. If you’re based in Australia and going through a tough time, eheadspace can help.
  • Relationship Matters – Provides a range of relationship services including individual counselling, relationship counselling, family therapy, and relationship education programs.

AMIMALS AT SCHOOL AND SUNSMART POLICIES

School Council has recently endorsed our updated policies on having animals on the school grounds and our SunSmart policies. You can find these on our website or via the links below. It is important to be familiar with both of these policies, in particular if you are dog owner that you are not bringing your dog (or other animals) on to the school grounds. This is in the interest of the safety of all our children as schools are quite a chaotic and noisy environment that many animals are not familiar with. We really thank you for your understanding and support with enacting these policies.