WE SURVIVED TERM 3! 🥳
Another big term it has been! Full of Celebration Days, programs, clubs, and exciting new announcements! Let’s check out the highlights and see what’s ahead in Term 4.
PROGRAM NEWS! 🎊
In Term 3 we have started and finished some of our classic programs, working to support a variety of students across the college community in skills, resilience, and confidence building.
We congratulate and acknowledge the work of our Year 9 and 10 female students in the ‘Know Yourself Program’ and thank the team at St Kilda Gatehouse for their work with us! After 6 sessions together, they graduated the program last Friday.
The Raise Mentoring Program wrapped up on Tuesday! After 16 weeks of mentorship, and showing up every week, the mentors and mentees said farewell to each other; and it was great to hear from everyone about the impact the program has had on them. We’re looking forward to having them back next year.
Change-Makers, facilitated by Jesuit Social Services and Hijra Fitness is also in its third year running at the college, and has started with 10 eager Year 8 and 9s, working together around building leadership skills – running weekly sessions to mid Term 4. We’re excited to see the growth in the students between now and then!
LUNCHTIME CLUBS FOR EVERYONE! 🥪
Don’t forget about the clubs we’re running each week!
On Mondays, we hold our Year 7 & 8 Hang-out club, where the City of Casey Youth Services drop in and connect with our juniors around support available in the community. Looking forward to seeing how the club continues transforming. Join us in A12!
On Tuesdays we’re still running our popular Sisters – Space club with the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights (AMWCHR), and we’re excited to see Farima and the Team come back in the start of Term 4! Come down and see Jana in M17/18, Tuesday lunchtimes for some chats and pizza!
On Thursdays, Rakks the guest Arts Therapist and Sarah from Bunjil Place are still down in W10 with our seniors for Artfulness Club! We’d love to see more Yr 10s, 11s, and 12s there for a place to chill and unwind from stress in the week.
Every second Friday lunch, the 180 Youth Group from One Youth visit and run some mini-games and chats in H14! We’ll see you there in Week 2 next term.
FAREWELL (FOR NOW) HAYLEY! 💐
One of our veteran Wellbeing Team Members Hayley Golby, has left us in August to go on family leave!
We wish her and her family well on her break and can’t wait to see her back here in 2027!
WELCOME TOM & CAMILA!
The Wellbeing Team welcomes our newest members, Tom Blanche and Camila Racki, to our crew!
Tom is an experienced Youth Worker of 10 years at other local schools, joining us full-time; and Camila is a graduate Social Worker, joining us two days a week. We’re stoked to have them join us in programs, clubs, events, 1:1 work with students, and more. Say hi to Tom and Camila in Breakfast Club, next term!
FREE HELP ACROSS THE COLLEGE 🤲
Our Doctors in Secondary Schools Program is back up and running! Our new clinic Narre Warren Medical Centre, is very excited to start and will be here every Thursday from 10/9.
The doctor, also known as a General Practitioner or GP, is at the school to help you be as healthy as possible, so you can see them for free. There will be both female and male GPs available for students, and the appointments will be about 20mins on Thursdays.
You might like to speak to the GP to get some information or help with health issues like:
- Physical wellbeing – including sleep and exercise
- Healthy eating
- Relationship issues – including sexual health
- Drug or alcohol use – including smoking and vaping
- Emotional wellbeing – including feeling down or worried
- General health concerns
You can make an appointment for the GP by following the instructions in the guide below.
Your appointment will be put onto your Compass schedule as ‘meeting’ and you will get a confirmation message via Teams or your school email address. The appointments will be available during the school term (not over the holidays), and will be 20 minutes per appointment. Appointments will be held in the GP clinic near E Bock, by Fordholm Road.
Our School Lawyers are also available for free appointments weekly!
The Team at SMLS provide free, confidential Lawyer appointments and Education Sessions to students on Tuesdays – based in the Wellbeing Centre at the college. To book, go through Compass – check out the guide below. If you have a question, please come and speak to the Wellbeing Team and we can support with booking!
The Lawyers can help you with concerns or questions around:
- Immigration - Community Safety - Law and The Police - Drugs and Alcohol Concerns - Job Seeking
- Driving Law - Study and Careers Support - Financial Concerns - Family Law … and more!
Over the holidays – the team at SMLS might still be available for support – get in contact with them through the details on their website, to see if they can arrange an in-person, or phone appointment with you: https://www.smls.com.au/
HPSC also has close connections to local youth support organisations – including the City of Casey Youth Services, which run free and low-cost activities over the School Holidays! Register by clicking the links in the flyers – and book your spot quickly before they run out! https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/teen-holiday-program
They also run a free Counselling service for Young People aged 12-25, to help provide Mental Health support in the community. They can provide in-person appointments at their 3 Youth Centres, online support, or appointments over-the-phone. Referrals are easy, and wait times are quite quick. Check out the website and flyer below for more info! https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/get-counselling-support
KEEP UP THE CONNECTION WITH THESE COMMUNITY SERVICES! 🏝️
The Wellbeing Team get to catch up on their Beauty Sleep and Self-care over the holidays (Yay!) – but we want to emphasise that just because we aren’t available in that time, doesn’t mean Students aren’t without community supports. Here’s some ideas of local options you can check-out to help keep your Wellbeing in check!
- Free Sports Clubs? Yes Please!
- Reclink is the one-stop organisation for free Sports and Recreation clubs across the community! With a bunch of Volleyball, Soccer, AFL (and other sports) clubs across Casey and Dandenong – lock in your newest hangout spot with your mates, and get involved in your favourite hobbies! Check out the details and locations in the link –https://reclink.org/
- Uniting’s Komak Team also run a new exciting initiative for Afghan girls in the community – Keeping Afghan Girls Active!
Check out the info at this link for info and registration!
https://www.unitingvictas.org.au/event/keeping-afghan-girls-active-celebrating-our-journey/
- The School Doctor and Lawyers are away from the school for now, but are still out and about!
- Looking free Doctors and Health Services? Narre Warren Headspace (next to Fountain Gate) is your answer! Book online by the link below, set a date, and bring your Medicare care – that simple! Book through this HotDoc Link: https://www.hotdoc.com.au/medical-centres/narre-warren-VIC-3805/headspace-narre-warren/doctors
- Free Legal Services are can be accessed by phone call through contacting Youth-Law. Check out this website for some contacts and information: https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/rights-and-safety/know-your-rights/where-get-legal-advice
- When we come back, make sure to check in with our SMLS School Lawyer (weekly on Tuesdays), our free DISS Doctor (weekly on Thursdays), and our free Paediatrician! Check out the flyer for instructions for booking on Compass!
- Mental Health Support is still available over the holidays – through the community services, helplines, and websites in this list. Check it out while we’re away for the holidays. They’re available 24/7, online, and are free and anonymous!
- If you need any more help around accessing food, school materials, and help around the area – The Cranbourne Community Information Support Service (CISS) are available for calls and drop-ins! https://ciscranbourne.org.au/
- Ask-Izzy is also an incredible directory for support! Put in your postcode, and it gives you proper guidance – check it out! https://askizzy.org.au/
- The City of Casey also have an updated food-directory website, showing families where they can access food support for free – check it out here: https://data.casey.vic.gov.au/pages/food-resource-directory/
- We know the fragile situation in the Middle East can be distressing, and while we’re away, there are still services out there to chat to and get support from. Check out the Witness To War Hotline, which you can free call on 1800 845 198.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
We’ll see you back in 2 weeks for the final sprint, Term 4!
Health Space News
The HP nurses were able to run to Health Pop-ups this term.
The first focused on healthy eating and the importance of sleep and the second was run in conjunction with Women’s Health Week.
There were lots of options to learn – quizzes, games, simulations, healthy snacks and prizes for the students who came. Many students engaged with the presenters and the topics offered.
Term 4 we will be offering another Pop-up looking at being sun and swim smart and party-wise.
The Wellbeing Team
Youth Resources & Supports
The following resources have been compiled by the Wellbeing Team, in order to provide additional support to the adolescents in our college community:
Black Dog Institute – Bite Back
City of Casey Youth Services Facebook
Love: the good, the bad and the ugly
Satellite Foundation – Self Care Alphabet
Family Resources & Supports
The following resources have been compiled by the Wellbeing Team, in order to provide support to parents/carers and families:
Child Mind Institute – Family Resource Centre
Department of Education:
Looking After Your Child’s Wellbeing
Emerging Minds:
MindSpot – Online Mental Health Tools
This Way Up – Improve Your Wellbeing
This Way Up – Multilingual Resources
Child Safety
The College takes seriously its commitment to child safety. For any concerns related to child safety, please speak to the Principal, Assistant Principals, Wellbeing Team, House Leadership Teams, Teachers, or in fact, any staff member in the College. Alternatively, you may contact the Victoria Police or The Orange Door.