The Wellbeing Team have had a jam-packed yet successful Term 3! During this term, we saw the launch of The Fathering Project at Dads & Teens Games Night. It was a fantastic night, with over 40 dads & teens attending the event. Thank you to everyone who attended. A special thanks to Rodney Eade from The Fathering Project, and James Harding from Hard Cuddles for their inspirational presentations.
We had tremendous Respectful Relationships Days for the Year 8s, 9s, and 10s. We had Mancave facilitate the day for the boys and Peta & Gail for the girls’ groups. A big shoutout to Peta & Gail for developing and running the programs.
We have the Student Eye Care Program coming to Fairhills in Term 4, and please see below for more information. We wish you all a safe & relaxing break and look forward to seeing you in Term 4!
“Do whatever needs to be done, so that you can be everything you want to become.” – Unknown
Amal Saleh-Zada| Student Wellbeing Coordinator
Dads and Teens Games Night
The Dads and Teens Games Night was a great night enjoyed by all. The Fathering Project educates, connects and mobilises fathers and families to create brighter futures for all children. It is research-based prevention and early intervention programs and resources that engage, inform, inspire, equip and support fathers, families, schools, corporates and community-based organisations. It’s simple, fathers and father figures play a critical role in preventing long-term social, emotional and cognitive difficulties and creating the conditions for children to thrive.
R U OK?
Thursday 8 September was RUOK? Day! RUOK? Day is a national mental health and suicide prevention campaign that is about increasing people’s awareness and skills around having helpful conversations with people around them. We are often in the best position to notice the small changes in the people that we spend the most time with – changes in moods or behaviours that might indicate that someone might be struggling with something in their life. The next step is taking the time to check in with them. The RUOK? campaign is about reminding everyone to take the time to check in with those around them and making RUOK? a part of our everyday.
As part of our RUOK? Day campaign students in Yr 7-9 had focussed lessons in THRIVE and CONNECT last week addressing how to ask, why to ask and when to ask RUOK? Our VCE Food Studies students baked up an RUOK? cupcake storm for our lunchtime activities- they sold out in a flash and all money is going towards an RUOK? beanbag for the Wellbeing Centre. We also had students visit and add to our RUOK? mural wall where they were able to write tips on how to check in with someone and how it feels when someone checks in on you.
Our Year 12 Wellbeing Student Leader – Yasmin – was a huge part of the planning and running of the RUOK? activities- leading up the baking, selling and ideas behind the day. She is a star and we could not have done it without her. We are so grateful to her and to the VCE Food Studies class for their amazing and tasty cupcakes!
Respectful Relationships Programs
In Week 9, our Year 8, 9 and 10’s all participated in a full day Respectful Relationships program. The boys’ programs were facilitated by external group, THE MAN CAVE who led the boys through activities, discussions and sharing around the expectations on boys and men, healthy masculinity and supporting themselves and others. The school was able to provide these programs through funding available through the DET Respectful Relationships program. The girls’ programs were developed and facilitated by Gail (Chaplain) and Peta (Mental Health Practitioner). Both programs were well received by the students and were challenging, engaging and fun.
Student Eyecare Program at FHS – Free Eye Tests Covered through Medicare
Haven’t had your child’s eyes checked in a while?
- According to the Optometry Association of Australia, every person should get their eyes checked at least once every two to three years.
- At least 1 in every 6 students have vision issues that go undetected.
- All students are given a detailed report at the end of their eye tests.
- Find out if your child’s eyes are in good condition!
The school is pleased to announce that it will be running a welfare initiative called the Student Eyecare Program in Term 3, 2022. An optometrist will be onsite during school hours to provide students with a comprehensive eye examination. Each attendee will receive an individual report regarding the eye health and a prescription will be provided if glasses are required. The school will not have access to the individual report but will be notified if glasses were recommended. Please note that this service does not sell glasses and the prescription can be taken to any optical store.
The program’s aim is to detect visual problems that may interfere with a student’s learning abilities and subsequently hinder their academic potential. A significant number of students have visual problems that go undetected. The main visual issues that go undetected are inadequate focusing and eye teaming abilities that could lead to symptoms such as poor concentration, fatigue, headaches and unwillingness to read.
This eye health service is available to all students and is covered by Medicare Australia. It is a Medicare Bulk Billing service– so there is no cost to the students. The form is to be completed by the parent or guardian.
Register now: https://forms.gle/tzy2wM1LM8mRJYod6
FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE VISIT WWW.STUDENTEYECARE.COM.AU OR CONTACT (03) 8644 7012
Elephant Ed
Elephant Ed will visit our Year 7-10 throughout Term 3 and 4 to discuss issues commonly faced by adolescents, including safety, identity, body image, social media, and other issues. They deliver age-appropriate workshops that are tried and tested across all relevant age groups and are mapped to State and National curriculum guidelines. They work towards empowering young people to make informed, positive and safe decisions about sexuality, relationships and growing up.
Lunch Time Groups
Explore, facilitated by Gail, our School Chaplain, is a group for Year 7/8 girls and students who identify as female to connect through games, crafts, activities and discussion. The group will explore themes of friendships, personal strengths, coping and lots more. It runs Tuesdays at lunchtime in the Wellbeing Centre. Interested students can speak to the Year Level Leader or pop in to see Gail on a Monday or Tuesday for more information.
? Squad – our LGBTQ+ group continues to run on Thursday lunchtimes in the Wellbeing Centre and is open to all students. Each term the students attending decide what they would like to do during the weekly lunchtime sessions. Over the year so far we have talked about self-care and relaxation, made rainbow bead bracelets, decorated cookies, worked together to create a Pride Month Calendar to raise awareness about gender and sexual diversity, had a karaoke session, shared our favourite LGBTQIA+ friendly books and TV series and continued to build and support a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ students and allies.
Feel Good Fridays– Our 5-week workshop series about the connection between body and mind finishes up this week. We have had a great response from students as we have explored Nutrition, Sleep, Exercise and Relaxation and how looking after our body can enhance our mental wellbeing as well.
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club is held in J2 – (entrance from the Canteen Courtyard) as follows:
- Monday – recess – basic breakfast
- Tuesday – recess – basic breakfast
- Wednesday – before school – basic breakfast
- Thursday – before school – pancakes
- Friday – before school – basic breakfast
Families in need – Internal Food Options
Every fortnight starting Week 1 of Term 4 and every fortnight after our Frozen meal and Pantry is open to students and families that this is helpful for. Please meet our Chaplain Gail in the Canteen after school, from 3:09pm to 3:45pm. All Welcome.
Families in need – External Food Options
For families in need please see the following services that support the community:
Student Wellbeing Team
Student Wellbeing Coordinator – Amal Saleh-Zada
Mental Health Practitioner – Peta Cartwright
Chaplain – Gail Ackroyd
University Placement Students: Elli, Kerrie, Michelle
Accessing Support through Wellbeing
The Wellbeing Team can assist students in accessing the support they need to navigate challenges that may impact their ability to engage in learning or general feelings of Wellbeing. For example, the Wellbeing Team can engage the student or family in an initial assessment of need, short term counselling or skills development or referrals to external support agencies. Students may also be encouraged to access self-help strategies or resources. We will explore the best options for each student.
We encourage students and/or parents to contact the year level leaders for wellbeing referrals. You can also make an appointment with someone from the Wellbeing Team by attending the Wellbeing Centre or contacting us via email at wellbeing@fairhillshs.vic.edu.au
Teachers who have concerns about a student may also refer them to the Wellbeing Team through their Year Level Coordinator.
If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, please contact kidshelpline or lifeline on the numbers at the bottom of this page.
