Girls school holiday programs with STANDING STRONG

Standing Strong offers four main program areas for young girls:  Junior Club for 8-10 year olds, Teen Club for 11-16 year olds, Online Club for girls around the world and Private One 2 One sessions for girls and families looking for a more personalised support.  Through a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, Standing Strong programs help to "encourage, motivate, uplift and empower girls to live happy, healthy and inspired lives".  For more information see:  https://girlsstandingstrong.com/

There's a variety of activities and events offered through the school holiday at Standing Strong:

https://girlsstandingstrong.com/event-registrations/?mc_cid=d2e130d42a&mc_eid=83db748f28

New food allergy resource website for teens!

Teens and young people living with severe food allergies are being encouraged to start a conversation with their peers via a new website that could potentially save their lives.

The website was launched today and it operates just like an app, allowing young people to develop their own avatar and use it to talk to their friends or others with severe allergies about their experiences.

There's also practical information for young people on how they can manage severe allergies.

The website is:  www.250k.org.au.

Local Support Group - NEW!

A new support group has formed for local parents of children with disabilities, development delays or complex medical conditions. The group currently meets fortnightly, on Friday mornings, at Ellenbrook Library.

Coding Camp - School Holiday Fun

Children aged 4 - 12 years who are really interested in Coding, may also be interested in a Coding Camp coming up in the July school holidays.

The following website is where you'll find all the necessary information:

http://codecamp.com.au/

Coffee & Conversation - this Friday

This Friday 12^th May please join us in the College Café from 9:15am (after gospel) for Coffee & Conversation.

Our new School Nurse, Grace Bradshaw, will be joining us to share some information about her role at the school and to answer any general medical questions you may have regarding your children.  

Coffee & Conversation is an opportunity to meet new parents of our growing Junior School and share your parenting stories.

Hope to see you there!

From Jo Betti, College Social Worker

Lion Heart Camp - July 2017

LION HEART CAMP

A children’s bereavement program supporting grieving children following the death of a parent,

primary caregiver or sibling.

11th and12th July 2017
8.30am - 3.30pm at the Tuart Hill Community Centre.
Cost - Free!
Age Group - 5-12 years

To enquire please contact:
Program Director Shelly Skinner on 0416 344 024

• Helping children and parents understand the process of grief.
• Providing the opportunity to connect with other children experiencing the death of a family member.
• Strengthening parents knowledge and skills in supporting their grieving children.

Children’s program and parent’s program to run simultaneously

"13 Reasons Why" - a warning for parents

If you’ve got access to Netflix at home, or you or your children are streaming Netflix on a device, you will likely be aware of the popular American TV series “13 Reasons Why”.  Your teenager may be watching the show and/or talking about it with one of her friends.  “13 Reasons Why” is certainly generating mixed reviews online – it's about a 17-year-old girl who dies by suicide and leaves a series of audio tapes behind discussing her reasons why.    

I just wanted to advise parents of the potential risks associated with the series.  Headspace (Australia’s Youth Mental Health Foundation) have actually issued a warning about the show which is available to read at the following link:

https://www.headspace.org.au/news/dangerous-content-in-13-reasons-why/

The article refers to the “confronting and graphic messaging and imagery” used in the program, and the dangers associated with “glamorising” suicide.  The series has raised serious concerns from many suicide prevention experts about the potential risks posed by the sensationalised treatment of youth suicide, particularly to vulnerable teens or those struggling with mental health conditions.

I encourage you to be mindful of these risks when deciding whether to allow your children to watch “13 Reasons Why”.   Consider watching it with them to generate conversations about the issues raised and to help them process the material with your guidance.  If they have already watched the series, talk openly and supportively with them about their thoughts and feelings about the show and if you are concerned for your child’s safety or the safety of one of their friends, seek help.

Lifeline 131 114

beyondblue 1300 224 636

Jo Betti

College Social Worker