Wellbeing Report 

Hi everyone, just a reminder that we have a fantastic Wellbeing Team with myself, Lily, Jeanette and Kristy. We can help with any parenting worries or support your family with home or family concerns. The Wellbeing Team are on before and after school duty and we can help with any questions or queries you may have. Some students may feel a little nervous walking into school, and we can help settle your child by walking them to their classroom or setting them up with a friend and informing their teacher. 

Good routines at the beginning of the day can set the tone for the remainder of the day. Children who come to school feeling refreshed and settled are ready to learn and the quality of their persistence and coping skills are usually increased.  Children don’t understand time the same way as adults, and this can cause pressure on families to follow through on home routines. As children get older revise your routines to assess the skills your children have learned, because good routines help children to grow independent and responsible. If you think you are repeatedly asking your children to do things this is a clue that developing a new routine needs to happen.  Routines are helpful when you are trying to make new habits including good personal hygiene, organisation, completing jobs and homework.

Transition Tips for Home Routines

Using playfulness in transitions can be a great distraction when feelings are building. Playfulness turns off the alarm centre of the brain which allows children to feel safe and secure. 

Tips

• Playing a favourite song.  Do you think we can get the bedroom cleaned up before the song is over?
• Can you get to the car in only 20 steps?
• It’s time to go and get ready for bed.  Would you like to fly like a bird or hop like a rabbit.
• It’s dinner time. The floor is lava! How are you going to get to the kitchen?

Lunches

We have some children complaining that they are starving at break times. If children are hungry this really impacts on their concentration, moods, and their learning.  When the weather is cold our bodies burn more energy to stay warm so, please talk to your kids and adjust their lunchboxes accordingly. My advice is to always send extra food and then parents can monitor hunger levels and have conversations about nutrition. 

Lost Property-Alcove Area near the Staffroom 

Thank you, parents, for coming in to find lost jumpers. All lost property is located in the alcove space near the staffroom.  We have a large amount of unclaimed I’ve noticed many items have student’s initials written on them. It does makes it challenging for staff when we are looking or lost jumpers on the behalf of parents.  Please check that your child’s clothing is clearly labelled so it can be returned promptly.   

Talk to your child to increase their personal organisation of their belongings and the steps needed to ensure successful completion of this. Remember, Jeanette our school chaplain, Kristy, Lily and I can help out with spare uniform. 

Personal Hygiene 

Hopefully we are coming to the end of the cold and flu season. It’s still important to keep reminding children about washing their hands. Kids are often too busy to value practising and it’s important to continue to remind them to always wash their hands before eating or preparing food, after going to the toilet or playing, and after touching animals or dirty objects. Regular baths or showers will help keep your child clean and healthy. Bathing at the end of the day can also be fun part of the bedtime routine.

Health Alert-Varicella or “Chicken Pox”

A student in the upper school has been diagnosed with chicken pox.  If you have not heard of it, Chickenpox is highly contagious, and it is very easy to catch.  It usually starts off with cold like symptoms and then the rash appears.  It can be spread by having direct contact with the person who has chickenpox, especially by touching the liquid from the blisters. Chickenpox is also spread by the fluids that are coughed or sneezed into the air. 

If your child is unwell, please monitor their symptoms and seek a doctor’s advice. For more information, please check out the Royal Children’s Hospital link:

https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Chickenpox_Varicella/

Community Pantry Open Mon, Tues & Friday Afternoons-Hall Foyer

We have had a great response to families accessing our community pantry. Our regular days Monday, Tuesday and Friday afternoons from 2:30pm-3:30pm, parents and carers can come along and meet Jeanette, our chaplain to pick up some food items.  We have a variety of breakfast staples including long life milk, cereals, soups, rice dishes and fruit.  Food Bank generously supply our Breakfast Club program and they are supplying our community pantry. All families will need to do is bring their own bags.  If you know someone going through a rough patch, please reach out and let the Wellbeing Team know. We have increased our order for food hamper boxes where parents can pick one up from the community pantry.  The hampers are available every day of the week and parents and carers can either help themselves or contact the Wellbeing Team. We can bring them up to the kiss and drop for easy collection.  There is no charge, and we are thrilled that we can extend this support to our Woori community. 

Also, there are many organisations across Yarra Ranges offering support and assistance. For people looking for food relief, CIRE at the Yarra Junction hub, have food parcels and they have free bread on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The Yarra Junction hub is open for food relief, and they are a Centrelink Access Point. This service can be accessed by appointment where the school Welfare Team can refer families. If you are interested or know of any one you would like to recommend, please contact me. They are located next to the Yarra Junction Post Office, and they are open Monday Friday: 9am-4pm.

For any enquiries please email the Wellbeing Team at:

Jeanette.Nortcliffe@education.vic.gov.au

Andre.Campbell@education.vic.gov.au

Lily.Dix@education.vic.gov.au

Kristy.Malcolm@education.vic.gov.au

Breakfast Club- Every Monday & Tuesday 8:15am-8:45am 

Breakfast Club is up and running every Monday and Tuesday.  Please try to drop your child off by 8:30am to avoid disappointment, Breakfast Club must close at 8:45am for the classrooms to start. Jeanette, Sandy, and our team of volunteer helpers run the program and we always love extra parents popping in to help. For anyone interested in looking to help, either come along to Breakfast Club or email Jeanette from Wellbeing Team at

Jeanette.Nortcliffe@education.vic.gov.au

Fruit Available 

Fruit is available in the classrooms for students to eat. Every week, Food Bank supply the school with a variety of fresh fruit including apples, oranges, pears and carrots. 

Pantry Food Can Drive

A big thank you to the families who have donated to our pantry food can drive.  If you are in a position to do so, we are continuing to accept non-perishable items to community pantry food drive.  Donations can be dropped off at the school office.  Items which will help families include-

• Rice & pasta 
• Pasta sauce
• Tomato/BBQ sauce
• 2-minute noodles
• Stock - liquid/cubes
• Tinned vegetables 
• Cake mixes, pancake mix and jelly
• Muesli bars, biscuits, and crackers
• Cooking oil
• Tea, coffee and Milo
• Shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, liquid soap, tissues and toilet paper
• Laundry liquid, paper towel, cleaning sprays, sponges, and wipes
• Dog and cat food including tinned and dry

General Enquiries for Second Hand Uniform 

For parents looking to purchase second hand uniform you can contact the Wellbeing Team any time, Monday through to Friday. We are happy to make up bags (providing we have the stock) if parents cannot get to the school for our sales. Please email Kristy from Wellbeing Team for assistance at- Kristy.Malcolm@education.vic.gov.au

State School Relief

We can help families who are experiencing financial hardship to purchase school uniform.  Please email Kristy from Wellbeing Team for assistance at- Kristy.Malcolm@education.vic.gov.au

Chaplain Requests

The Department of Education has made some changes to the National Student Wellbeing Program in schools. For parents and carers interested, you need to sign a consent form in order for Jeanette Nortcliffe to see your child.  Jeanette.Nortcliffe@education.vic.gov.au

Head lice Update

Head lice will be a problem from time to time at Woori Yallock primary school and it is important to work together as a school community to minimise the frustration caused by the problem. This week, we’ve had one report from the junior school. Please call the office or tell your child’s teacher when you treat your child. Lice Alert notifications are uploaded to COMPASS. 

Head lice are spread so easily because when children play together, they usually have very close contact. When children play closely or cuddle each other it's easy enough for a louse to, literally, walk from one child's hair to another. The longer the hair the greater the chance a child has of getting head lice. I encourage all families to continually monitor and treat your children. The only way to stop lice from reinfesting is to stop their cycles, so repeat treatment and removal of the eggs is your only option.

Please remember if any parents have any questions or need advice about head lice and treatment options, please see me. 

Reminder-any child found with live lice will be excluded from school until they are treated. 

 Activities at Lunchtime- German Room 

Monday & Tuesday-Craft Club 

Thursday-Lego Club 

Our activity clubs at lunchtime have been extremely popular. For children looking for something fun, make more friends and being creative they may be interested in coming to craft club or Lego club. Student can also do colouring in, hang out with friends or just make something out of the materials on hand.

In craft club, the children have been making friendship bracelets which has sparked much enthusiasm and excitement. If families have any old costume jewellery at home, we are recycling beads to give them a new life. Cat’s eyes are also being made by using icy pole sticks and wool.  We are always looking for wool and if you would like to donate some the children will be happy.   

In Lego club, we have started building the Woori supermarket.  I have collected from families a large quantity of little packs from when Woollies ran the Supermarket little brick campaign. The kids appear quite keen to start this new project and I’m hoping it will generate some great conversations about health, nutrition, and all other aspects about running a business. 

Attendance & Absences

We encourage parents and carers to refer to COMPASS for information happening at school. Schools are required to work towards IMPROVING THE ATTENDANCE and PUNCTUALITY RATES of our students. When your child is going to be away parents and carers need to notify the school through COMPASS. This really helps us as we can communicate effectively with all relevant staff early in the school day.

Attendance Data 

Over the time a child attends school, having 1 or 2 days absence does not seem like much but it does add up and can impact on missed learning opportunities.