Counselling & Psychological Services

This term the School Psychologists have been running several small group interventions for skill building in several areas. It is one of our favourite ways to interact with students in a proactive, fun and targeted way. 

Social Skills Workshop

Year 3 are learning important friendships skills from the U R Strong program each week during their Social/Emotional Learning lessons, co-facilitated by their classroom teachers and the School Psychologists. These skills include:

• Friendship Facts
• Cycle of Friendship
• Friend-o-Meter
• Putting out Friendship Fires
• Dealing with Mean-on-Purpose behaviour

The Lunch Club

Selected students in Years 4 and 5 are participating in the weekly Lunch Club, to build skills in the following areas:

• Finding common interests
• Keeping the conversation going
• Recognising and managing emotions
• Resolving conflict

Transition Skills Workshop

Year 6 are working their way towards their transition to high school next year. Each week, the School Psychologists will work with them to fine-tune key skills for high school, which will then be reinforced on Orientation Day later this term and New Student Day next year. Our goal is to help answer as many questions as possible, so that they feel ready and excited for Year 7. Skills include:

• Organisation
• Asking for help
• Being open-minded
• Welcoming and including new students
• Navigating changes in friendships
• Managing feelings of worry or stress

Steps to Study Success Workshop

Interested Year 11 students are taking part in a 6-week afterschool program to develop their organisation, study and stress management skills. Students are taking a proactive approach to study and exams, so that they can perform to the best of their ability in Year 12. Topics they will cover include:

• Learning about different types of memory and attention
• Recognising unhelpful thinking styles and challenging these with alternatives
• Building a toolkit of practical techniques to reduce stress
• Learning methods of study
• Balancing study with other areas of life
• Setting realistic goals and expectations
• Overcoming procrastination and perfectionism
• Prioritising sleep
• Creating an individualised exam plan