Breakfast club - FOOD FUELS THE BRAIN!
The wellbeing/Integration staff operate the breakfast club every morning from 8.20am – 8.45am in the SPHERE. This is an opportunity for students to come together and heck-in with peers and staff before the official start of the school day. Students can access the following foods:
Toast – butter, vegemite or jam
Fruit – oranges, bananas & apples
Cereals including Weetbix, Sultana Bran and Weeties
Special thanks to FOOD BANK Australia for their ongoing support and Bakers Delight Cessnock for the donation of 10 loaves of bread per week.
Internal wellbeing programs:
TERM 4
Green Thumb Growers
Year 8 Future Proofing Survey
A big shout out to the 75 students and their families who said ‘Yes’ to participating in this survey on Wednesday 21st October.
The following information has been provided by the Black Dog Institute who are the facilitators in this survey/data collection. The Survey aims to provide the following:
1. UNDERSTANDING and ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM through longitudinal data collection
We are particularly interested in understanding WHY the rate of depression doubles between early and late adolescence and what can be done to PREVENT this shift towards depression during the adolescent years. Hence, we are conducting a comprehensive annual mental health survey of thousands of young people over a period of five years. We begin working with them in Year 8 and follow that same group until after they finish school. These surveys have recently been adapted to incorporate questions about the psychological impact of the bushfires and COVID-19. This survey data will be analysed by academics across the country and the resulting reports will be used by governmental and non-governmental decision-makers to make the NECESSARY CHANGES to improve the mental health of young Australians.
2. BUILDING PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE though using mental health apps
In the first year of the study, students will use evidence based mental health apps to help in developing and enhancing their mental resilience and coping abilities.
A follow up survey will be conducted with the same 75 students on:
Thursday 3rd December at 9 am – 10 am (60 minutes)
SPHERE
S – Self Compassion: Knowing Your Value.
P – Potential: Possibility For Change.
H – Hearing: I hear you. Listen. Validate.
E – Empathy: I am aware that I am not the only one.
R – Responsibility: I choose how I respond.
E – Evolve: The only way is through. Growth is a “through” process.
Throughout this year, our school has implemented a new wellbeing initiative. Known as the SPHERE, the staff have offered:
- One-on-One talk therapy support.
- Conflict Resolution/Peer Mediation.
- Parent Communication.
- Food/water/shelter to meet the immediate physical needs of a student presenting in need (trauma care).
The SPHERE space offers a “Being Area” (GREEN zone) for de-escalation, a place where students can simply be.
Staffing: Hannah (School Chaplain) & Michelle (Student Support Officer) provide a consistent presence in the SPHERE. Support is also provided by HTs Wellbeing, Steve Quigley & Julie Myers. In addition to this, Em Thomson and Anthony Burke have been attending the SPHERE every Monday throughout Term 3 and will continue in Term 4, offering specific interventions focusing on building positive relationships with boys through a mentoring program and building resilience in our Year 7 girls. Youth Off the Streets continue to build a great partnership with our school with Social workers Brendan and Emma supporting our students on Wednesdays and Fridays respectively. Will Doran, the Youth Development Officer for our area, continues to offer ‘Outreach’ support to many of our students who find themselves in a family crisis situation.
