Dhumbadjirri "Talk Together"

Wellbeing

Child Safety

Thornbury Primary School is committed to the safety and protection of all children. We have clear and explicit guidelines that detail the shared school community expectations for child protection and safety and actions to be taken when the safety of students is/potentially is compromised. These are based on the recommendations of the Victorian Department of Education and Training from the Betrayal of Trust report and underpinned by the new PROTECT Child Safe Standards. Ministerial Order 870. Ministerial Order No. 870, which operationalises the Child Safe Standards in all Victorian schools, came into operation on 1 August 2016.

 

We empower children to be vital and active participants in our organisation. We involve them when making decisions, especially about matters that directly affect them. We listen to their views and respect what they have to say. We promote diversity and tolerance in our organisation, and people from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds are welcome. All of our staff, service providers, contractors and volunteers must agree to abide by the Thornbury Primary School Child Safe Code of Conduct which specifies the standards of conduct required when working with children.

 

 

Emma Cornish-Giles – Child Safety Officer

Child Safety Champions 

 

 

 

 

 

Millicent Baar (Foundation)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clementine Isaacson  (Year 1/2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simon Dooner (Year 3/4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darren Ash (Year 5/6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leigh Collins (Specialists)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rylee Curran (Tutors)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Department of Education Vaccination 5-11 Information

It’s been really fantastic to see such excitement around the return to school and we want to keep it that way. A crucial part of that is getting as many students vaccinated as possible.

 

Alongside ventilation and other vital COVIDSafe steps such as regular rapid antigen testing, supporting as many students as possible to be vaccinated will help make our school as safe as possible.

 

Bookings for children aged 5 to 11 to receive the paediatric Pfizer vaccine are open and we encourage parents and carers to get your child vaccinated, if you haven’t already done so.

 

The Pfizer vaccine is safe and recommended for children. The vaccine will help protect your child from getting sick from COVID-19, help to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and help ensure kids can have more time at school and playing with their friends.

Vaccinations for children aged 5-11 years old are delivered at 2 appointments, 8 weeks apart. Children with specific medical vulnerabilities can access their second dose 3 weeks after their first dose.

 

If you’d like more information about this, you can read a recent statement from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI): https://www.health.gov.au/news/atagi-update-following-weekly-covid-19-meeting-19-january-2022 

 

To book an appointment

You can book at your local GP or pharmacy: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/booking

You can also book at a family-friendly vaccination centre by calling the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.

 

You can also make vaccination centre bookings for your children online, though you will need to use an email address that has not been used in the system before: https://portal.cvms.vic.gov.au/

 

Helping children to get their vaccination

Vaccination centres understand that children may feel anxious about vaccination or have other support needs. A range of options are available to help children get vaccinated. Please discuss your child’s needs with the vaccination centre when you book an appointment.

 

Appointments are also available at Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations.

 

👉 Find out more about vaccination for kids: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-information-children-and-teenagers

 

Mental Health and Wellbeing at TPS

HI my name is Anna Chetwynd and I am the Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator for the Mental Health in Schools Pilot Program (MHiPP) at TPS. This partnership with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and the Mental Health in Primary Schools Pilot gives TPS funding for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing and to build mental health capabilities of staff across the school and link with external services. 

 

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, in collaboration with the Melbourne Graduate School of Education has developed evidence-based training and resources to build capacity of participating primary schools and support them with implementation across the year.

 

In this role and in alignment with the MHiPS program and the TPS strategic plan, I aim to:

  • Continue to embed School Wide Positive Behaviour Intervention and Supports (SWPBIS), Safe Minds, STOP WALK TALK, and Zones of Regulation.
  • Collect data from student voice group sessions exploring student knowledge and understanding of mental health and deadly values at TPS.
  • Support and manage mental health literacy data from staff and wider school community.
  • Work with staff to complete Functional Behaviour Analysis and Behaviour Support Plan development & implement evidence-based strategies. 
  • Liaise with external agencies which will support students.
  • Lead school-wide professional development in Mental Health Literacy.
  • Work with families, external agencies and educators using the Team Around the Learner model to support individual students.

Families of Grade 2 and 4 students have been invited to participate in the family survey on Mental Health for the MHiPS program. 

 

Deadly Days

In the first few weeks of school, all students worked on learning, and revising the Deadly values at TPS. 

 

Our Deadly values have been designed over the years by students, staff and families to build a common language of expectations at TPS, both onsite and online. During our Deadly days students focused on one value per day.

In Art and Craft, Antoinette led discussions and activities on working together.