Wellbeing update
Happy end of Term 1! It has been a great first term for the Wellbeing Team. We have enjoyed offering individual support as well as setting up proactive and positive mental health programs for our school community. We have been working on a number of initiatives and are very excited about the rest of the year ahead as we work together to ensure Koonung continues to be a safe, supportive and healthy community where we navigate the ups and downs of life together. See below for a number of the ways you can interact with the Wellbeing Team. We are all wishing you a very restful and enjoyable term break!
Clubs
The wellbeing team oversee a few clubs this year:
Breakfast Club – Fridays 8:15am-8:40am in A Block
Open to all students on Friday mornings, Breakfast Club allows students to have some breakfast before a busy school day ahead. Cereal, toast and fruit are available each week.
Monday Funday – Mondays @ Lunchtimes in A2
A lunchtime club just for year 7 students – come along and play some board games and puzzles and have an opportunity to socialise with other students outside of your class.
Wellbeing Wednesdays – Wednesdays @ Lunchtime inA2
Open to all students, Wellbeing Wednesdays is a club that aims to promote student wellbeing in a variety of ways. Run with the assistance of the Wellbeing Captains, activities are different each week and might include craft, mindfulness, movement, trivia, games, chill out space as well as guest speakers from time to time.
Programs
RAISE
The Year 8 RAISE program will begin at the start of Term 2. The RAISE Youth Mentoring program is a supervised mentoring session that takes place at the same time each week in terms two and three. A small group of Year 8 students will be mentored by external volunteers who have completed RAISE best practice youth mentoring training. Students are paired with an adult mentor who is there to listen and support them. This space allows young people to unpack any of the issues they are currently facing.
Each
The Authentic You Group program will be delivered to a small group of our Year 8 and Year 9 students via the Each youth and family counselling team. This is a seven week program that takes place once a week. It is designed for young people to explore topics such as self-esteem, body confidence, managing (tricky) emotions, how to support others and communication skills.
Peer Mentors
On Friday 12th March, 28 Year 10 and Year 9 students participated in Peer Mentor training. Our Peer Mentors developed their skills in role modelling and empathy, assertive communication, problem solving, how to help Year 7s navigate some common scenarios and activities designed to build rapport with the Year 7s.
Peer Mentors will mentor Year 7 students during their Positive Classrooms time, twice a term. Well done to all involved on a very successful day!
Assemblies and Presentations
The Wellbeing Team has attended all year level assemblies this term to re-introduce ourselves to the students and promote positive wellbeing. We have covered topics such as coping strategies, positive psychology, respectful relationships and Q and A’s with the year levels. We are looking forward to engaging in more of these presentations throughout the year.
Whitehorse School Holiday Program
Whitehorse Council are running their Autum school holiday program these school holidays. Please see the link below to explore what is happening in the area
https://www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/things-do/festivals-and-events/school-holidays
Headspace Hawthorn – Tuning into Teens – Parent program
Tuning into Teens is a free 6-week parenting program which assists parents to help their teens understand and regulate their emotions - this is referred to as Emotional Coaching. The program is for parents and carers of young people aged 12-25.
Dates: 10th May – 14th June 2023
When: Wednesdays
Time: 6-8pm
Where: headspace Hawthorn – Level 1, 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn Cost: Free
Limited spots are available, and registrations are required via the link: https://bit.ly/3TaHNyX
