The Wellbeing Hub

Felicity Shiel-Jones

Respect It’s About All of Us – Community Seminars

Box Hill High Schoolwas excited to be collaborating with Blackburn High School, Koonung Secondary College and Mullauna College to address as a community, issues around respectful relationships in a step to change community attitudes to domestic violence and sexual assault. Each week the media highlights the impacts of gendered and sexual harassment, domestic violence and the normalising of graphic content. We are working alongside our local high schools to tackle how we can help our young people be aware of healthy behaviour choices to improve their experiences with these issues. 

There were 3 webinars held across Term 4:

Setting the Context with Associate Professor Christopher Fisher Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University and Anita Koochew, Eastern Community Legal Centre.

Language and Conversations with Jay Sanders, Educator, author, publisher and blogger and Aimy McAninly, Project Lead - Inner East Respectful Relationships, Department of Education and Training.

Community and Implications withAdrian Asdagi, Community Engagement Manager, Carlton Football Club and an advocate from Domestic Violence Victoria.

Kindness Week

Thank you to all students, staff and families; you participated in activities that promoted kindness and connection as we returned to onsite learning.

BHHS Feel Good Event – Lucy Bartholomew

“I always think you live a whole life in a run. You have good times, hard times, rewarding times, times of struggle. It’s already taught me so much.” -Lucy Bartholomew.

Lucy Bartholomew, Ultra Runner Athlete, joined our school community for an evening sharing her story of conquering mountain ranges and how a positive mindset has played in her success. Lucy travels the world participating in ultra-marathon runs over rugged terrain. Lucy competed in her first 100km run, the Surf Coast Century, under controversy due to only being 15 years of age. At 17 she took on the Big Red Run which covers a distance of 250kms over 6 days. She is young but she is determined and disciplined!

Wellbeing Programs

Term 4 was fabulous to allow our programs to resume with Year 8 students completing the RAISE Mentoring Program, Year 9’s Martial Arts Program and Year 7-9’s starting the PAWS Program.

Thank you

It has been a challenging year and I would like to acknowledge the dedicated work of the wellbeing and learning support team, alongside all other staff in the school, in guiding our students to navigate the return to onsite learning successfully. We hope that all our community members discovered the power of their character strengths during the year and enjoy a well-deserved summer break with loved ones.

Rest and re-energise over the summer holidays! Looking after our mental health and wellbeing.

This year has certainly been challenging for our school and wider community, and it is a relief for many of us that the warmer weather and end of year has arrived! It is important to reflect on many of the experiences of this year and consider how 2021 has impacted on our mental and physical health. One definition for resilience is ‘advancing despite adversity’ and the mission of educators is to focus on continual growth. These school values have been truly lived this year, and we know that the summer holidays can provide much needed wellbeing time for families. It might also be a time where some of our young people can experience poor mental health due to a lack of structure and busyness that schools provide.

Some top tips for looking after our mental health:

Communicate – regularly with families and friends. Make time to touch base with your teenager just to lightly check in
Find a good balance with nutrition, sleep and physical activity
Establish some regular routines each day
Practice patience and compassion – listen, don’t judge or give advice.
Normalise having “not ok” times
Try to have fun, look for opportunities to add variety to the day as well
Pursue an interest or learn something new

Activities for students to try over Summer

Find a casual job

Earn extra pocket money, gain skills and meet new people. Check these tips on how to write a resume and prepare for an interview

Organise and explore

List places you want to visit and things you want to do. Take up a photography course, or find another course that interests you. What are some new experiences you can make memories about?

Creative projects

Get your creative juices flowing! Revamp your bedroom or create an art piece. Invite a friend over or ask a parent to help. Visit some art galleries or spaces that you haven’t been to before. Take photos (not selfies!).

Learn how to cook some recipes

Contribute to the family by developing your kitchen skills and have at least 2 recipes you can cook from memory that others enjoy.

Get active

Get out on the oval and kick a footy with mates, check out the local skate park or go for walks. Head to the pool or the beach or a river. Aim for one hour of physical activity a day.

Volunteer

Give back to the community and gain some great experience. Learn about an issue that you care about and how you can get involved.

Wellbeing Support Resources:

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/school/teachers/health/mentalhealth/Fact-sheet-School-Holidays-Mental-health-and-wellbeing-support-parents.docx

Kids Helpline or phone 1800 55 1800

Parentline is a phone service for parents and carers of children from birth to 18 years old that offers confidential and anonymous counselling and support on parenting issues 13 22 89 (8am- midnight).

eheadspace, online and phone counselling for young people aged 12 to 25 and their families: 1800 650 890 www.headspace.org.au/eheadspace

The Wellbeing Team 2021