Wellbeing Officer

Firstly I would like to welcome our new families, we are excited to get to know better this term. Weeden Heights is a lovely community and I am sure you will all feel part of this community very quickly.

 

For the families that do not know me, my name is Nicole and I am the Wellbeing Officer at the school. I work with students individually and in social groups to develop goals and strategies that can support their emotional wellbeing. If you have any concerns regarding your child, please discuss this with the classroom teacher and if I can help in any way, please do not hesitate to make contact with me. I have worked with families for over 25 years and have 4 children of my own, so I understand that sometimes when faced with challenges a student may require additional support.

 

It has been so lovely to hear chatter and laughter in the school yard this week. The students are so excited to have returned to school and I am very lucky to have heard all the fun activities they got up to over the holidays. If the school year has snuck up on you and mornings are a little rushed, there are several strategies that you can use to create a more peaceful morning. 

 

1) Students of all ages can unpack their lunchbox and drink bottle after school and you can even pack snacks for the next day. I often place crackers and fruit in my children’s lunchboxes the night before to save time.  Creating a snack container for the pantry and the fridge can makes it easier to find the food and can save minutes in the morning. 

 

2) Encourage your child to lay out their uniform for the next day. My eldest is 15 years old and I still get him to do this every night. Otherwise we have a very rushed morning.

 

3) If possible, allow extra travel time. I live in Mulgrave and often it only takes one or two red lights to add extra minutes to your journey. 

 

4) Develop healthy eating habits. Many studies have confirmed that children that eat a healthy breakfast experience less fatigue and are able to concentrate for longer periods of time. Breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated. My daughter does not have a big appetite in the mornings so we ensure the fridge is stocked with pouch yogurt, fruit and pre-cut veggie sticks and healthy smoothies. Being organized is the key to a happy and healthy breakfast.

 

5) Adequate sleep the night before will make such a difference when you wake your child up each morning. Often on the school holidays children are allowed to stay  up later but as school begins they often find it difficult to return to a regular bedtime. If your child is finding it challenging to fall asleep in the evenings, you can try reducing their bedtime in 15 minute increments. There are also many useful mindfulness and relaxation apps that are tailored to young children. Students of all ages can unpack their lunchbox and drink bottle after school and you can even pack snacks for the next day. I often place crackers and fruit in my children’s lunchboxes the night before to save time.

 

                                                                  The Father's Project

 

 Unfortunately, due to Covid restrictions we were unable to run the group last year. With restrictions eased this year, it is a wonderful opportunity to run group again and hopefully the group commencing in term 2.  If you are interested in joining or leading the group, please express your interest directly to me via email. If we have enough interest, we can proceed and arrange a time to meet. This would be a great time to chat about the needs of the group and can begin planning.      

 

I look forward to seeing everyone in the school yard, so please come and say hello.