Wellbeing Report
Andre Campbell
Social & Emotional Wellbeing Programs
We want all students to develop positive ways to interact with each other and to form healthy relationships. Each week, all classrooms are delivering the Respectful Relationships program. Please ask your child about their lessons and what they are learning. The more we talk about and discuss these skills, the more they become an automatic response and behaviour.
In grades 3/4, the students are learning about Body Education. This is an exciting and interesting stage of a child’s life, and we hope together with parents we can help develop students understanding in a sensitive and safe manner. The program covers:
- The basic physical, social and emotional changes associated with growing up
- Body safety
- Respecting the feelings of others
- Qualities of good friends
- Making sure you are safe in the connected world
Also, don’t forget, across the week we have several opportunities for students to feel supported with their friendships. Whether it’s during break times out in the yard, seeing our welfare team or being a part of our activities at lunchtime.
Second hand uniform sale
On Tuesday we ran our second hand uniform sale. It was well supported with parents and carers and it was lovely to speak to you all. Thank you to the many families who have donated second hand school uniform. We raised over $100.00 and all monies raised are invested back into the school and the welfare programs which support our students. Please keep those clothing donations coming!
Annual National Disability Data Collection-August 4th
The Australian Government collects statistics about students with disability. This information helps the government to have a better understanding of students with disability. Data will be collected by schools from all around Australia. The main reason is the legislation to the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. Under this law, students with disability have the right to take part in their education, just like all other students and schools may need to make changes to support students with disability. These types of changes are called adjustments. Schools must make adjustments that are reasonable – so this means they are balanced and fair.
Some examples of reasonable adjustments for some students and schools include:
- Providing schoolwork in more than one way – such as large print, Braille or audio information
- Extra time to complete work
- Small group or one to one learning support
- Help with getting around the school facilities.
Please speak to me further if you have any questions.
Community Pantry Open Monday, Tuesday & 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 Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm.
For any enquiries please email the Wellbeing Team at-
jeanette.nortcliffe@education.vic.gov.au
andre.campbell@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 in order 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 out, either come along to Breakfast Club or email Jeanette from Wellbeing Team at-
jeanette.nortcliffe@education.vic.gov.au
Fruit Available
Fruit are 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, tooth paste, 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 classroom. 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.
Playtime- Negotiating
Teaching children the art of negotiating is a valuable skill. They will learn that you are more likely to get what you want and keep friends if the other person gets something in return. Point out they are maintaining good relationships with other children and preventing possible conflict.
- Decide what you want.
- Think about what the other person might want in return.
- Pick a good time to ask.
- Use a friendly voice.
- If the other person won’t agree to what you want, accept that. You won’t always get what you want.
- Keep your side of the bargain.
Ask your child how they have managed challenges this week and discuss the decisions they made-did it help them or hurt them?
Activities at Lunchtime in the 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. We are still collecting cardboard rolls left over from paper towels, glad wrap packs. All donations kindly accepted!
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 are able to 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.
