Introducing Doncaster Secondary’s new Wellbeing Team!

This year we would like to welcome a whole new wellbeing program to Doncaster Secondary College. The Wellbeing program is a team is made up of Glenn Morris (Assistant Principal), Drew Hanna (Head of Wellbeing), Sylvia (Counsellor/Social Worker), Bethany Moody (Counsellor/Social Worker) and a number of placement students/ volunteers named James, Shae, Emily, Amy, Charlotte, Yulanda, Jaimee, Melanie, Michael, Vanessa and Alex.

For the first two weeks of the school year, the wellbeing team has focused on easing the transition from primary school to high school for our year 7 students. Members of the wellbeing team are walking around the campus during recess and lunch to support student wellbeing, we are all wearing a bright orange lanyard so we are easy to spot, so if anybody has any questions please come up and ask us, we love to help!

What is wellbeing and what the wellbeing team hopes to achieve

Wellbeing is the state of being comfortable, healthy or happy. Wellbeing is fundamental to the overall health of an individual. The wellbeing team aims for all students to achieve wellbeing and to feel supported and encouraged to do so, and for students and parents to be aware of the supports available at Doncaster Secondary College.

Our reflection on the past few weeks

The past two weeks at Doncaster Secondary the wellbeing team focused on the year 7 transition program. The wellbeing team has been spending time in each year 7 class ensuring all students are getting involved in class activities and feeling supported in doing so. While attending these classes we have noticed students are following Doncaster Secondary’s four core values which are Teamwork, Respect, Resilience, and Responsibility. During recess and lunchtime, the wellbeing team has been in the schoolyard assisting students with numerous things such as classes and lockers, aiming to ensure a smooth transition for students.

Coping with the Back-to-School routine

Sometimes, hearing the words “going back to school” can cause a range of different emotions, it can cause good emotions such as excitement and happiness, or it can cause not so good emotions such as feeling scared or nervous. Last week on Wednesday, 31 January, Doncaster Secondary students returned back to school. To make the transition back to school easier, the wellbeing team here at Doncaster Secondary College have some tips for you!

1. Adjusting your sleeping routine

When we think of holidays, one word usually comes into mind and that is sleeping in! But then when the school term begins again it can be difficult to get used to the early mornings, and we often press the snooze button a few too many times. A good way to adjust your sleeping routine is to begin a few days prior, slowly waking up earlier and earlier each morning. Another tip is removing electronic devices from yourself 2 hours before bedtime, this is because the light from electronic devices suppresses our melatonin levels, melatonin is what makes us feel sleepy so we definitely do not want them to below.

2.Good Nutrition

Teenager years are a critical period of growth and developmental, so it is important students are eating healthy and frequently throughout the day. Some quick and easy snack options might look like, vegetable sticks with dip, fruit or greek yoghurt with granola. It is important to feed our bodies nutritional foods so we feel awake and energised during the school day.

3.Being aware of your schedule and staying organised

Mornings can be quite stressful, especially when we are unsure of what we are doing that day. Organising yourself the day before can help tremendously, that way when you wake up students are already aware of what classes they have that day and what they need for those classes (e.g. homework). The Doncaster Secondary College planners are a great way to outline your weekly schedules and keep on top of important due dates.

4.Speaking to a member of the Wellbeing Team

Members of the wellbeing team can be seen walking around the campus at recess and lunch and we encourage students to come to speak to us regarding anything, whether you need help finding a class, or just want to tell us about your favourite movie! Students can also request to speak to somebody from wellbeing by speaking to there teachers or coordinators.

5.Become aware of campus resources

All students were given planner at the beginning of the first week, if a student does not yet have a planner, they can mention this to a member of the wellbeing team or their year level coordinator. At the start of the planner, there is a college map, this map will quickly become your new best friend! it shows students where every class/facility is located within the school.

6. Self-care

Self-care is an activity which we do to take care of our mental, emotional and physical health. The most important part of returning back to school is focusing on your own wellbeing! Self-care can be practised in a range of ways such as a healthy diet, exercise, daily journaling, meditation, hobbies (e.g. sports), or expressing how you feel with family and/or friends. It is important that we take care of ourselves at all times.

If any students have any questions feel free to come up to us and ask, we are here to help! If you want to get into contact with a member of the wellbeing committee, speak with your Year Level Coordinator or Discovery Teacher.

Emily Presley

DSC Wellbeing Committee

New additions to our Wellbeing Team - Therapy Dogs

We are thrilled to have our two therapy dogs, Ziggy and Bowie, onboard with our Wellbeing team this year!

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