WELLBEING

We believe that wellbeing is at the forefront of educating students at Glen Osmond Primary School as it involves the teaching of the “whole child” and incorporates mental, social, physical, intellectual and emotional factors. How a child feels about themselves, and their life is strongly connected to their ability to thrive and succeed in a school setting. We support the Department for Education’s, Wellbeing for Learning and Life framework which encapsulates the link between student wellbeing and their ability to learn. At GOPS we provide a variety of strategies to cater for the unique needs of all students throughout their educational and life journey. These include:

• Whole school implementation of the Zones of Regulation curriculum (see outline below).
• SSO Support providing supportive networks for students social, emotional and cognitive engagement.
• Buddy System which pairs older students with younger students to support and develop social skillsets.
• Child Protection Curriculum, teaching all students to recognise harm and develop strategies to keep themselves and others safe.
• Student Support Services, working with the Department in offering specific supports such as social workers, behaviour support coaches, psychologists, special educators, speech pathologists where required.
  Student Support Services
• Wellbeing initiatives/Awareness campaigns such as Harmony Week, R U OK Day and Bullying No Way Week which foster inclusivity, empathy, and open conversations. They enhance social and emotional skills, empower students to address issues, and contribute to a supportive and harmonious school environment.
• Wellbeing Fun Days– to enhance children’s wellbeing by providing a break from routine, fostering community spirit, and encouraging self-expression. These events boost morale, promote social interaction, and reduce stress, contributing positively to mental health and a sense of belonging within the school community.

Zones of Regulation

We teach The Zones of Regulation curriculum across all classes at GOPS to provide each student with coping and regulation strategies to use when they experience anxiety, stress and lack of focus. In the classroom, students are faced with an array of emotions, including tricky social situations and learning challenges. By teaching them how to cope with these feelings we allow them to become more proficient at tackling learning challenges and work together to build resilience and emotional intelligence. We want all students at Glen Osmond Primary School to grow into successful teenagers then adults. Teaching children at a young age about managing their feelings supports them in developing positive coping strategies, emotional competence, resilience and confidence to enable them to achieve positive mental health and wellbeing.

Zones of Regulation teaches students to:

• Develop emotional literacy to notice, share and articulate their emotions.
• Develop skills in recognising other’s emotions and builds empathy.
• Gain an awareness of internal body sensations- interoception/warning signs.
• Develop strategies and skills to move from one zone to another to assist themselves in regulating their emotions and readiness to learn.
• Understand that emotions, environment and sensory experiences such as lack of sleep or hunger might influence which zone they are in.
• Develop problem-solving skills and resilience.
• Identify and practice a range of calming, organising and alerting strategies for regulation (personal ‘toolkit’).

Child Protection Curriculum

The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC) is a comprehensive educational program used at GOPS to teach young people from Reception to Year 6 about personal safety and respectful relationships. It is broken into four focus areas, with one focus taught each term, these include The Right to be Safe, Relationships, Recognising and Reporting Abuse and Protective Strategies which cover a range of topics including:

The KS:CPC is inclusive, providing resources for children with diverse backgrounds, disabilities, and Aboriginal children. It aims to equip students with the knowledge and strategies to keep themselves safe and to seek help when needed.

Please see the attached links for further general wellbeing and mental health advice and support.