With the school holidays upon us, we are happy to bring you a Wellbeing update for the holidays and introduce an exciting new program we will introduce in Semester 2. The school holiday provides an ideal opportunity to reset, refresh and nurture ourselves and our families. We can focus on caring for ourselves and our families’ needs in a more relaxing atmosphere and set up good self care habits for Semester 2.
Smiling Mind
We have successfully incorporated Smiling Mind into our Wellbeing program since mid 2020. We received funding from the NSW government for the initial training and resources for this evidence based wellbeing program and are now delighted to have accessed further government funding for this worthwhile program.
In addition to the range of mindfulness exercises, all age appropriate, on the Smiling MInd app or website, Smiling Mind has now produced excellent resources to support children’s emotional wellbeing through mindfulness. The Smiling Mind Kids Care packs are available for three age groups 5 -7years, 8 -10 years and 11 - 12 years. They provide ideas and activity sheets to support children’s wellbeing. The three topics are recognising and managing emotions, looking after worry and anxiety and focusing on the positives.
These resources, including the Resilient Families program, and the Smiling Mind Generation resources can be found on www.smilingmind.com.au. The Resilient Families program includes topics such as flexible thinking skills, building self worth and strong relationships and understanding and navigating emotions.
Students from 3 - 8 might enjoy Smiling Mind Creek, 18 X 2 minute animated stories with three characters, a pink galah, a western long-beaked echidna and a platypus. They teach children how to navigate their emotions.
Zones of Regulation
For the last two years we have also brought into our Wellbeing program another evidence based program for emotional regulation, the Zones of Regulation. For the last two terms all students in the school have had opportunities to practice different ‘ tools’ to build resilience and develop their skills in emotional regulation which is so important for wellbeing. This has provided a school- wide shared vocabulary, linked to many topics taught in the PDHPE unit, ‘Being Resilient is Brilliant’.
B kinder for Semester 2
B kinder is an evidence based wellbeing program and kindness resource. We are very fortunate that through a NSW Wellbeing Innovation Fund Grant, the b kinder foundation has donated to us, and other Queanbeyan schools, the b kinder workbook program and b kinder day cards, posters and resources.
In Term 3 from Weeks 3 - 10, students will be taught concepts and given opportunities to develop their social and emotional wellbeing. Through these lessons children are encouraged and challenged to think of ways to develop caring and respectful relationships, to include others and to make them feel like they belong through acts of kindness. Each student will receive a colourful work book, and we look forward to seeing students’ pro social skills develop further with this exciting new program.
NAIDOC week at Sutton Public School - Term 3 Weeks 1 and 2.
National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee ( NAIDOC) is from 2nd to 9th July. Because those dates fall in the school holidays, we look forward to learning and celebrating in Weeks 1 and 2 of Term 3. The theme this year is ‘ For our Elders’’.
We will also start preparing for ‘Soaring with Stem’. This year, Years 5 and 6 will have the opportunity to take part in a STEM workshop in Queanbeyan based on ‘Young Dark Emu’ by Bruce Pascoe. This will take place in Week 7. Kindergarten to Year 4 will enjoy their own workshops at school in the same week.
SUTTON MINDFULNESS COLOURING GALLERY
Next term, we will begin to develop a calm, relaxing area of the Hall for lunchtimes or recess. More details, including a name for this quiet area will be announced in Term 3.
To help us decorate the walls, please bring in any carefully coloured pictures, or drawings you have done over the holidays. Please write your name on the bottom left hand corner.
Have a relaxing and happy holiday.
Mrs Alison Walker
