Winters Flat Primary School eNewsletter

Saturday November 26th

Election Day Fundraiser - Seeking donations and volunteers - see below

Monday November 28th - Wednesday November 30th

Year 5/6 Narmbool Camp

Tuesday November 29th

2023 Prep Transition 2:15pm - 3:15pm

Tuesday December 6th

2023 Prep Transition 2:15pm - 3:15pm

Thursday December 8th

End of Year whole school picnic 5pm - 7pm

Monday December 12th

Whole school Swimming Fun Day at Gurri Wanyarra, Kangaroo Flat

Tuesday December 13th

Whole School Step Up session 10:00am - 12:00pm (including 2023 Preps)

Thursday December 15th

Year Six Graduation

Friday December 16th

Last day of school 3:15pm finish
Year 4 - 6 Party at Chewton Pool Pick up from the Pool at 3:00pm

TERM 4 DATES – PLENTY STILL HAPPENING IN THE LAST FOUR WEEKS!

As you can see there are still many dates on the school calendar before the school year ends. At this busy time we can all get a bit overwhelmed by commitments and expectations. At school there are opportunities for students and staff to have mindful moments. Here’s an easy one you can try at work, home or when you just need to catch your breath for a minute.

How do you become mindful when overwhelmed?

Notice your body seated, feeling the weight of your body on the chair, or on the floor. Take a few slow, deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. As you take a deep breath in, imagine bringing in more oxygen to enliven your body. As you exhale, imagine having a sense of deep relaxation.

Some other tips at: https://www.mindsoother.com/blog/feeling-overwhelmed-mindfulness-can-help

KIMOCHI NEWS

For the remainder of the year we are focusing on feelings, which promote sharing and taking turns.

Week 12 & 13 Homelinks have some suggestions to try at home.

Homelinks_12_and_13_Happy_Sharing_Happy_Taking_Turns.pdf

Homelinks_12_and_13_Happy_Sharing_Happy_Taking_Turns _pdf 1.20 MB

26 NOVEMBER - ELECTION DAY AT WINTERS FLAT – VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED

As you know we have a dedicated team working towards making Election Day 26^th November an amazing event. If you can give us some time by volunteering on the day, we would be so grateful. We still need volunteers for the following time slots

BBQ:

7:00am - 8:30am

8:30am - 10:00am

1:00pm - 2:30pm

Other stalls:

7:30 - 9:00

9:00 - 10:30am

10:30am - 12:00pm

Funds we raise will go towards some lovely new outdoor furniture for students.

BIRTHDAY

Faith - 12 in the fourth week of November

Jaya – 8 in the fourth week of November

Karen B - in the fourth week of November

Willow - 8 in the fourth week of November

Sylvie – 12 in the last week of November

Michelle - in the last week of November

Hip Hip: Hooray

Hooray: Hip Hip

COVID SAFETY

COVID-19 isolation requirements have changed

Department of Health advice continues.

It is strongly recommended that students:

who test positive to COVID-19 stay home and isolate for 5 days
should not attend school after 5 days if still symptomatic
who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school
advise the school of the COVID-19 positive test result

Where students become symptomatic at school they should:

be collected by their parents/carers
undergo testing for COVID-19

It is strongly recommended that staff:

who test positive to COVID-19 stay home and isolate for 5 days
should not attend after 5 days if still symptomatic
who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school
report their positive test result to the school and through eduPay

At school we promote and encourage:

washing hands
mask wearing indoors (highly recommended)
physical distancing
rapid antigen testing
Outdoors when practical
Windows open
Air purifiers in all classrooms

Plenty of Free rapid antigen tests

Testing is strongly recommended at least twice a week for students and staff. Tests are also strongly encouraged for close contacts of cases or when symptomatic.

After doing the tests at home, if it is positive, you will need to:

let the school know
contact the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form or call centre on 1800 675 398.

A video about RA testing is available online.

Suzanne Kinnersly

Principal

After school Chess

There is no chess this Thursday the 24th of November.

Raffle tickets

Please remember to return all sold and unsold raffle tickets, along with monies to the office by this Friday.

Northern Books Stall

Don't forget the wonderful Northern Books will be having a stall this Saturday. The perfect opportunity to purchase Christmas gifts.

Karen Mahoney & Kitty Ward

Office

We are seeking volunteers for the Election Day Fundraiser, please contact Karen or Kitty in the office.

We would also appreciate donations of the following items:

Items for Lucky Dip bags

small secondhand toys in good, clean condition
kids craft supplies eg: pencils/erasers/paints/origami paper etc

Democracy Hamper Raffle

Please return tickets and monies to the office by Friday 25th

Cakes & Preserves Stall

Donations of baked goods and preserves can be dropped into the office on Friday the 25th of November or to the stall on the day.

.

Other stall info:

Trash & Treasure

We are inviting our community to book a stall to sell their secondhand wares.
Children run stalls are also very welcome! Come and sell your outgrown toys, books and clothes!
The stall fee is $10
Set up and leave as you please, there is no required timeframe.
Call the office to book your spot!

AT SCHOOL AND HOME

Walk and Talk Sessions

Walk and Talk is just as it sounds – walking and talking! As a Wellbeing Worker, I will often take a student on a Walk and Talk session. Other staff members do the same, sometimes with groups of students. There are a number of benefits to walking and talking, as opposed to sitting in a room and talking about challenges and problem-solving.

Research demonstrates that while eye contact can indicate interest and that channels for communication are open, many people actually find it a little discomforting. Some even experience anxiety when they are the focus of someone’s attention in this way.

Walking while talking changes the overall dynamic between two people. Facing forward rather than maintaining eye contact can make the situation feel less intense. This more casual approach often empowers people to talk more freely and easily – especially when discussing difficult or sensitive issues. This has indeed been found to be the case with many teenagers and young people.

Here are some of the benefits of Walk and Talk sessions:

movement and exercise produce healthy chemicals in our bodies which can shift one’s mood
sensitive students do not become overwhelmed by the intimacy of a small space
students have many options if they want to shift focus
talking can occur without the pressure of eye contact

Walk and Talk is something that you can try with your own child. There are a lot of different types of conversations that happen within families and sometimes we aren’t sure where or when to make space for talking, especially when our lives are so busy.

Here are some tips and ideas for where, when and how to talk with your child, including Walk and Talk, Car Talk and Bedtime Talk:

https://talk.tas.gov.au/tips-for-getting-your-kids-talking/

I’ve shared this before, here is a link to a paper about Wellbeing activities and conversation starters for parents and carers of primary school age children:

https://www.edithvaleps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/parents-wellbeing-activities-foundation.pdf

IN THE COMMUNITY

Volunteer Drivers Wanted

This year Castlemaine Community House are considering offering free transportation to and from the Community Christmas Lunch within Mount Alexander Shire. If you are a licensed driver and would like to volunteer your services to drive a mini-bus, please call 5472 4842 or email customerservice@cch.org.au

Community Christmas Lunch

Share a delicious meal with good company on Christmas Day. Come alone or bring your family & friends. Enjoy music, activities and festivities.

Date: Sunday 25 December

Time: 12.30pm to 2.30pm

Where: Castlemaine Town Hall, 25 Lyttleton Street (entry via Fredricks Street)

Cost: FREE

Bookings essential – https://cch.org.au/community-christmas-lunch/

Boorp Boorp Boondyil exhibit

The exhibition Boorp Boorp Boondyil (passing knowledge to our children) is a name gifted to the project by local Dja Dja Wurrung senior Elder, Uncle Rick Nelson. It is pronounced ‘Boorp’ as in ‘torpedo’ and ‘Boondyil’ as in ‘book’.

This permanent exhibit will provide residents and visitors with an opportunity to walk through an interactive space, where they will learn the history of the area, including the story of the Eagle, the Bat and the Crow, the Creation Story of the Dja Dja Wurrung in the Mount Alexander region, as told by the Nelson family. The exhibition also includes important cultural lessons about living on Country and bush foods, medicine, waterways and weaving.

https://www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/BoorpBoorpBoondyil

The mental health support system is under immense pressure. If you are having trouble accessing any services please contact me on hannah.okeefe@education.vic.gov.au. I am available for a chat/meeting on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9:15 and 2:15.

By far the best service you can contact if your child is experiencing a mental health crisis is the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). They have a 24 hour number you can call to talk with someone and access services in the region: 1300 363 788 (https://www.bendigohealth.org.au/ChildandAdolescentMentalHealthService/).

The Loddon Orange Door is also an excellent free service for adults, children and young people. They can link you in with services. They are available 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (closed public holidays). Call 1800 512359

The following list is a comprehensive directory of mental health support services, including out of hours support. (If your safety or the safety of others is at risk, contact emergency services on 000)

HeadtoHelp 1800 595 212

Cairnmillar Institute (free telehealth counselling) - https://www.cairnmillar.org.au/telehealth

Beyond Blue

1300 22 4636 (24 Hrs)

Lifeline
13 11 14 (24 Hrs)

Suicide Call Back Service
1300 659 467 (24 Hrs)

Kids Helpline
1800 55 1800 (24 Hrs)

Other helplines

Tandem Support and Referral Line information, support, advocacy or referral for family members or friends who are supporting a person with mental health issues. Call 1800 314 325.

Blue Knot Foundation Helpline information, support or referral for adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse. Call 1300 657 380, 9am-5pm / 7 days a week.

Butterfly Foundation's National Helpline counselling and treatment referral for people with eating disorders, and body image and related issues. Call 1800 33 4673 8am-9pm / 7 days a week.

Child Protection (5pm to 9am Monday to Friday, 24 hours on weekends and public holidays) For children and young people whose safety is at risk Call 13 12 78

eheadspace mental health and wellbeing support, information and services to young people aged 12 to 25 years and their families. Call 1800 650 890.

MensLine Australia telephone and online support and information service for Australian men. Call 1300 78 99 78, 24 hours / 7 days a week.

Men’s Referral Service (8am to 9pm Monday to Friday; 9am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday). For people at risk of using family violence. Free, confidential, expert support for men and their family and friends. Call 1300 766 491

MindSpot Clinic telephone and online service for people with stress, worry, anxiety, low mood or depression. Call 1800 61 44 34 AEST, 8am-8pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-6pm (Sat).

QLife telephone and web-based services to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTQI) people. Call 1800 184 527, 3pm-12am (midnight) / 7 days a week.

PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) telephone information, counselling and referral service. Call 1300 726 306, 9am-7:30pm AEST (Mon-Fri).

Brother to Brother, a 24-hour crisis line for Aboriginal men has been set up to provide extra support during the coronavirus pandemic. Call 1800 435 799.

SANE Australia support, training and education enabling those with a mental illness to lead a better life. Call 1800 18 7263, 9am-5pm (Mon-Fri).

Safe Steps (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) For women and children who are victims of family violence. Web chat support service Monday to Friday 9am until midnight. Call 1800 015 188

Sexual Assault Crisis Line (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) For victims of sexual assault. Call 1800 806 292

The Compassionate Friends Victoria information and peer support for families trying to rebuild their lives after the death of a child, sibling or grandchild, from trained volunteers with lived experience. Call 9888 4944 or 1300 064 068 24/7. Siblings (aged 18-30 years) can use the web chat daily, 3pm-12am.

Open Arms (Veterans and Families Counselling) 24/7 free and confidential counselling to anyone who has served at least one day in the ADF, and their families. Call 1800 011 046.

With Respect (5pm to 11pm each Wednesday and 10am to 10pm on Saturday and Sunday) Specialist LGBTIQ family violence service. Call 1800 542 847

Victims of Crime Helpline (8am to 11pm, 7 days a week) For adult male victims of family violence and victims of violent crime. Call 1800 819 817 or text 0427 767 891

Mental Health Foundation Australia National Mental Health Helpline offers emotional and practical support to families, carers and individuals with mental health issues. The response team does not provide counselling but can arrange a call back from a trained Psychologist or Counsellor. Call 1300 643 287.

If you feel that the stress or anxiety you or your family members are experiencing is getting too much, a psychologist may be able to help. Psychologists are highly trained and qualified professionals skilled in providing effective interventions for a range of mental health concerns, including stress. A psychologist can help you manage your stress and anxiety using techniques based on the best available research. If you are referred to a psychologist by your GP, you might be eligible for a Medicare rebate. You may also be eligible to receive psychology services via telehealth so that you do not need to travel to see a psychologist.

There are number of ways to access a psychologist.

You can:

use the Australia-wide Find a PsychologistTM service. Go to findapsychologist.org.au or call 1800 333 497
ask your GP or another health professional to refer you.
Investigate other mental health services, including domestic violence services via the link: https://mhaustralia.org/need-help

THIS WEEK IN THE KITCHEN & GARDEN...

What we're cooking in the kitchen this fortnight...

Bread rolls
Lentil and chickpea burgers
Guacamole
Broad bean dips
Cilantro lime rice
Tiganites
Lemon curd
Old-fashioned citrus cordial

We made tiny sliders out of the burgers, rolls, rice, and dips, and topped the tiganites with lemon curd, honey, Greek yoghurt, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi fruit, apricot, peach, and cinnamon sugar -yum!!