Parent and Community
The Gallery
The Gallery Area in the Junior School has been set up as a learning space for the students during school time. Therefore we request that during those times you wait for your children outside. During the hours of 9am to 3.30pm the students and staff will be engaged in learning activities and appreciate your assistance in minimising distractions.
The Patch
We were very busy watering our beautiful garden in our first week back at school. Thank you to all the students that helped on these very hot days and especially the students from Camp Australia who enjoy lending a hand in the mornings.
We have many apples growing on our trees this year. I can hardly wait for them to be ready, there is nothing better than biting into a home grown apple!
Our passionfruit teepee is going crazy and again we are excited about this fruit ripening. We also have lots of tomatoes and beans and zucchini growing which we are hoping to enter in the Red Hill Show.
Happy gardening everyone.
Smile Squad Dental Program
Free Dental service for schools.
The Smile Squad will be visiting our school with free, high quality dental care.
This initiative has been developed by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV).
A dental team and a dental van will be located at our school for the purposes of this program.
There are 4 simple steps to receiving this dental care at school.
Step 1 – Parent consent is required
Step 2 – A check-up is scheduled
Step 3 – Parent consent for treatment if needed
Step 4 – Treatment is scheduled
Information packs including consent forms will be sent home in the next few weeks.
This program is voluntary and requires parent permission before any student accesses this program.
More information regarding Smile Squad will be sent home and included in the next edition of the iNewsletter.
Bushfire Support - CSPS Community
Advice to assist parents, teachers and students following recent fires
The current impact of bushfires on Australian communities continues to be devastating. Large scale distressing events impact our school communities in many ways. The bushfires that are impacting a number of our communities have been unsettling and stressful for many people.
Distress may be related to:
having been directly at risk/exposed to fires (loss of homes, pets, personal belongings)
being concerned about family or friends
feelings and memories related to previous experience
other grief and loss
How can you support your child at home?
If required, some actions you may wish to consider to assist your child include:
Provide a stable, predictable routine or explain what will happen next where routines need to change.
Plan pleasurable activities, play in preferred areas or with favourite toys. Find opportunities to connect with family and peers.
Protect them from exposure to media coverage and adult conversations about the emergency.
Allow children to ask questions and use developmentally appropriate explanations. The Birdie’s Tree recovery suite is specifically designed for children aged 0 to 5.
If children choose to recount an event through talking or play, listen to their experience away from others who may be affected.
Australian bushfires 2020: Psychological preparation and recovery
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) has compiled a range of resources to help Australians to prepare and recover from the threat of bushfire. These include information sheet that focus on supporting and managing different kinds of stress.
If you are concerned, seek support through local health care and relief services in your area.
The Emerging Minds Community Trauma Toolkit includes tips for helping children through a disaster or traumatic event.
How can we support your child at school?
Staff have received an information session during our Curriculum day on Tuesday 28th January. Areas of focus included:
- ensuring a high level of communication and awareness with our students to provide an opportunity for students to share any experiences during the recent holiday break
- providing a referral process including self referral from students and staff if requiring support from our social workers and/or School Support Services (SSS).
- check in with staff to ensure support is made available if required due to personal experiences during the holiday period.
If you are concerned about your child please contact the school to make an appointment with our social workers Rachael Mazzaglia or David Kennedy.
Counselling
If at any time you are worried about your mental health, or the mental health of a loved one call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
You can also contact:
your doctor or local community health centre
a counsellor or psychologist
NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 60 60 24.
CSPS Bushfire Preparedness Policy
