Doctors In Secondary School Clinic

Our Doctors in Secondary School Clinic has resumed this term with Dr Umanga De Silva and Nurse Damian Lane. This service is available to all students of the College, more information about the Doctors in Secondary School can be found on compass.

All students are able to make an appointment to see the nurse and/or the doctor. Online bookings have been made open to students via compass in addition to students being able to make times themselves in person at the clinic.

Families who would like their child to see a doctor at school can arrange an appointment by contacting their child’s house team.

Melanie Hayward

Assistant Principal

Student Support Services

The Resilience Project

For Parents & Carers:

Year 7 – 10 students will begin bringing home family activities from The Resilience Project. Students are encouraged to discuss their learnings from student success classes at home. We hope you are finding these opportunities valuable.

This next presentation from The Resilience Project is all about Empathy and Kindness.

Empathy is our ability to put ourselves in the shoes of others to feel and see what they do. We practise this through being kind and compassionate towards other people.

Brain imaging data shows that being kind to others registers in the brain as more like eating chocolate than like fulfilling an obligation to do what’s right (e.g., eating brussel sprouts)!

Research shows that practising empathy, such as performing acts of kindness, taps into our brain’s ‘mirror neurons’, builds compassion and our behaviour becomes more social and community-based.

View Part 3 of the series here - Empathy https://theresilienceproject.com.au/parent-and-carer-hub/

Here’s an activity to practise empathy and kindness:

Reflect on someone in your life who could benefit from an act of kindness today. It could be a friend who would love some affirmation about their work, your pet who deserves an extra treat, or a family member who would love a phone call or text message.
Make a plan for who you are going to show an act of kindness to, and what you are going to do.
If you want to add accountability to your plan, share it with someone else and encourage them to do the same thing.
Follow up with each other in a few days time, to ask how it went!

Sources: Psychology Today, UC Berkeley, Greater Good Science

For mental health resources and support information, visit The Resilience Project’s Support Page.

For Students:

All Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 students have been undertaking The Resilience Project learning in their Student Success classes during term 2. Each student has received a workbook and is guided through the lessons with support from their teacher and the online learning portal.

Please do not hesitate to contact the school if you have any questions about The Resilience Project or go to their website at: The Resilience Project

Melanie Hayward

Assistant Principal

Student Support Services

Respectful Relationships

Respectful Relationships education is a core component of the Victorian Curriculum from foundation to year 12. It is all about embedding a culture of respect and equality across the entire school community.

In response to enquiries from parents about the implementation of our Respectful Relationships curriculum, we have put together a presentation for families to find out more. This is available on our College website via the following link:

http://www.kurunjangsc.vic.edu.au/news/2022/05/ksc-respectful-relationships-community-presentation/

Please do not hesitate to contact myself at the College should you have any additional questions following the viewing of this.

Melanie Hayward

Assistant Principal

Student Support Services

Attendance

Going to school every day is the single most important part of your teenager’s education. Students learn new things at school every day – missing school puts them behind. At Kurunjang Secondary College, we aim to support our families in getting students to school every day.

Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s House Team if your child is experiencing difficulty coming to school. There are a range of support options available to you whilst we work together to ensure your child attends.

Where it is essential for students to remain home due to medical reasons, please contact our College absence line on 9743 9211 on the day your child is absent. A medical certificate should be produced in the event of more than one day absence.

You’ll find attached to this week’s newsletter, Every Day Counts.

Melanie Hayward

Assistant Principal

Student Support Services

IDAHOBIT DAY at Kurunjang Secondary College!

From Josie Mitchell, Secondary School Nurse

Monday 16th May was such a wonderfully positive day at school with a great vibe from staff and students who participated! For the first time on an IDAHOBIT Day we held lunchtime activities in the Drama Room G3, rather than outside!

IDAHOBIT Day is The International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia. In other words, a day to raise awareness for the work still needed to combat discrimination against the LGBTIQA+ community.

There was help from students including the PRISM Group, Student Leadership, special visitors from Headspace and Melton Youth Services, and of course the Wellbeing Team. The school library also had a colourful display leading up to IDAHOBIT.

We set up the Drama Room before lunch with a buzzing music playlist, and tables set up with rainbow related resources, a pledge to sign, special rainbow pins, and a huge display of rainbow posters, flags and buntings. There was also a colourful rainbow stripe body paint which was very popular!

The focus was about how we can all be ALLIES… So, what is an ALLY?

Someone who doesn’t identify as LGBTIQA+ but shows support for those who do and can stand up for them!

The simple things an ALLY can do include:

Refuse to use slurs like “that’s so gay”.

Support and encourage your friend/s and be there for them in both the good and difficult times.

Use the correct pronouns – it might take time but that’s ok – as long as you try.

Stand up and speak out for equal rights.

Use a person’s preferred name.

Do what you can to stand up to discriminatory language and behaviour.

Don’t assume someone’s gender or identity.

Use gender neutral inclusive language.

Never “out” someone to others. It is that person’s choice who they tell, not yours.

So many of the staff and students showed their commitment to making a positive difference at our school and in our community to promote understanding.

Be an ally! Show Respect!

In the community