Pastoral Care Worker News
Our school year is nearly over and has gone so fast. I thought I would give you an overview of some of things that I have been involved in this year.
What's The Buzz has been a very popular program for increasing social skills in children and 24 students have completed this.
I have recently taken 10 students through a program called Seasons for Growth which is a grief and loss program. Parents and Caregivers came to our celebration session to witness what the students had achieved during our time together. I will gather this group together again in Term 1 next year with two Reconnector Lessons which will consolidate what the children have learnt in this program.
This year I have also been working closely with the Year 7 Girls in a program called Superchicks, which is a fun lunchtime program aimed at increasing self-esteem and friendship. I have also seen many of these girls one on one to support them.
Café 7 is a special lunchtime event that I hold once a term for all of our Year 7's to celebrate their achievements as Senior students. We have lunch together, which I supply, and then play some games or just sit and talk. I have been supporting this group of students for three years now and it has been wonderful to see them grow and mature over this time.
With the help of Jacky and Belinda (thank you girls) I have also held lunchtime Craft programs and I am currently running a Friendship Group with six Year 5 girls as well as Kids Bizz which is a story and craft time around the story of Christmas.
I have helped out in classrooms, especially the first two terms of school and come alongside both staff and parents to support them as needed. I have managed to provide the staff a Morning Tea in Term 1 and a lunch in Term 3 with the help of Arise Christian Church and Hackham Family Baptist Church. Our staff work very hard at Hackham East Primary School and I like to acknowledge them with these events and also chocolates in the staff room from time to time to thank them.
20 Christmas hampers for our school families have been made with the help of my Church at Arise and John & Ruth who have generous hearts are making up 8 hampers for our school community. I thank the staff and school community for their generosity in donating items for the hampers. I know that the hampers will be a big blessing to those who receive one.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Blessed Christmas with family and friends and send my warm wishes for a safe, happy and healthy New Year.
Christmas is my favourite time of the year but it is all too easy to feel stressed with extra demands at this time. Please remember the real reason for Christmas is about loving, giving and caring for others as the very first Christmas story reminds us. It is a time to celebrate and rest with your nearest and dearest and come back refreshed in the New Year.
Keep Safe - Many blessings.
Cherie Love, Pastoral Care Worker
