St Francis de Sales Catholic Primary School Lynbrook Newsletter

Wellbeing

Coping during Lock down

Many of us are struggling being in lock down again. Here are some tips that might help you and your family during this difficult time.

  • Aim for a positive headspace by focussing on what we have or the things we still get to experience. Try not to worry about the plans that aren't happening, or the things we can't do.
     
  • Show kindness for others and feel the incredible benefits attached to practising empathy.
     
  • Pay attention to how you feel. Set boundaries on the activities which bring negative emotions, like scrolling through social media or watching the news.
     
  • Try using a journal or reflecting on the day and look for positives in each day, e.g. sunny weather and time to go for a walk and get exercise.

The Resilience Project also suggests some great podcasts to listen to that share positive wellbeing advice.

Another resource you might find helpful is about the difference between Mindfulness and Meditation.

 

Mindfulness and meditation are often put forward as solutions to our stresses and anxiety - but what exactly is mindfulness and meditation, how do they differ, and what are some tips to get started? Check out the quick guide to mindfulness and meditation to learn more. Or get some courage to be vulnerable from the latest Everyday GEM, Paige Hobbs.

We know children are currently experiencing a lot of fear, worry and anxiety as a result of the Coronavirus crisis. The Australian Childhood Foundation have produced a number of resources that we hope can help parents and carers manage some of the stress and help explain things in a way that children can understand.Visit the website to access a range of resources.

 

This is a link to an A to Z of fun activity ideas that you and your family can do together during lockdown. 

 

https://professionals.childhood.org.au/app/uploads/2020/09/F-PrimarySchool.pdf

SFS Twilight Community Market 

We are crossing our fingers and hopeful that we will get to celebrate our Twilight community market this year on Thursday 4th November. 

 

Only 12 weeks to go!! It’s not too late for a stall. If you have a small business to promote, please email me for more details, rlenko@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

 

Child Safety Policy

At SFS, the children’s safety and wellbeing is always a high priority. We have a child safe policy at our school. Each week in the newsletter, we have been sharing some of our Child Safe Policy. This week’s focus is on education and training for staff.

Child safety – education and training for school staff St Francis de Sales Primary School provides employees, volunteers and clergy with regular and appropriate opportunities to develop their knowledge of, openness to and ability to address child safety matters. This includes induction, ongoing training and professional learning to ensure that everyone understands their professional and legal obligations and responsibilities, and the procedures for reporting suspicion of child abuse and neglect. 

 

At least annually, our professional learning and training addresses: 

· staff’s individual and collective obligations and responsibilities for managing the risk of child abuse · child abuse risks in the school environment 

 

· our school’s current child safety standards. 

 

Each year staff are a made aware of the procedures and processes in place at the school to monitor the ongoing needs of the students. All mandated staff complete an online training module and assessment related to mandatory reporting. Staff participate in online training modules via Safe Smart Solutions Portal in the following areas:

 

 · Occupational Health & Safety Induction - Annually 

· Child Safety Standards - Staff Code of Conduct - Annually 

· Mandatory Reporting Training - Annually 

· Mental Health & Well Being Course – Annually

 · Nationally Consistent Collection of Data - Biennially 

· Privacy & Data Breach Requirements – Biennially

 All new staff undertake a rigorous induction program prior to commencing at the school and during their first year on staff. Staff have access to the Staff handbook, which refers to what description of school policies staff can refer to those saved on the Resource Drive at the school and in addition access is also being provided via an online portal through the Safe Smart Solutions portal.

 

 

Respectful Relationships

 

In 2016 Respectful Relationships (RR) education became a core component of the Victorian curriculum. The program was born after the Royal Commission into the tragic death of Luke Batty in 2014. It was a recommendation from the Royal Commission that all schools teach Respectful Relationships Education (RRE) through a Whole School Approach, to support students to recognise and regulate emotions, develop empathy for others and establish and build a framework for positive relationships. Here is an activity that you can try at home with your family this week during mealtimes.

Take it in turns to ask each other questions.

  • Who do you admire and why?
  • What makes you unique?
  • What can you do if you don’t feel good about something you see or hear?
  • What would you do if you were being bullied? If you saw someone else being bullied?
  • Which superhero would you most like to be? Why?
  • Which 3 words best describe you?
  • What do you wish you had more time for?
  • If a genie granted you three wishes, what would they be?
  • If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
  • What do you most like about yourself? Why?
  • What makes our family special?
  • What do your friends most like about you?
  • What makes someone a good friend?

If you have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Rachel Lenko

Student Wellbeing Leader

 

Thought for the day