Melrose Park Public School Newsletter

Kindness week is a week dedicated to kindness and taking that extra, conscious step to brighten somebody’s day.

It was created with the intention of encouraging more harmony and kindness between people by offering thoughtful gestures of kindness, no matter how big or small. 

Classes focus on all areas of wellbeing and how being kind and being respectful to each other makes the school a wonderful place to belong. Teachers promote activities to make kindness the norm and promote positive peer relationships.

Ways to be kind and live together in harmony include;

• Write someone a kind note - some words of kindness can go a long way.
• Tidy your room without being asked - this will be great for everyone in the house, including you, because you'll have a clean space to enjoy being in.
• Tell yourself three things you love about yourself - be kind to yourself by giving yourself some compliments!
• Write a thank you letter to someone who has helped you - this will let them know that you're grateful and appreciate their support.
• Congratulate someone - it's great to say well done to someone you care about who has achieved their goals!
• Listen to your friend's problem and support them - show kindness to your friends by listening to them when they want to talk to you.
  
• Invite someone to join in your game at school - help everyone feel like they belong by inviting some who is left out to join in your game.

Next Monday 21 March, students are encouraged to wear orange clothes to school as a celebration of Harmony Day.

Melrose Park PS has adopted The Zones of Regulation as a school-wide Social and Emotional Learning initiative to support the Wellbeing Framework for Schools.

As a school we recognise the importance of wellbeing and aim to create a culture that empowers our students to develop strong positive character traits and group dynamics.

What are the Zones of Regulation?

The Zones uses four colours to help students self-identify how they are functioning in the moment given their emotions and states of alertness. There are times where it is expected to be in each of the zones and times it would be unexpected.

Blue Zone is used to describe low states of alertness (e.g. sad, tired, sick or bored) when our body and/or brain is moving slowly or sluggishly.

Green Zone is used to describe a regulated state of alertness (e.g. calm, happy, focused or content). Being in the Green Zone shows control and is generally the zone we need to be in for schoolwork and being social.

Yellow Zone is used to describe a heightened state of alertness (e.g. stressed, frustrated, anxious, excited, silly, nervous or confused). The Yellow Zone is starting to lose some control.

Red Zone is used to describe extremely heightened states of alertness or very intense feelings (e.g. anger, rage, panic, terror or elation). Being in the Red Zone can best be explained by not being in control of one’s body.

What will the Zones of Regulation look like at Melrose?

Across all classrooms a set of sequenced lessons arebeing taught taught which encourages students to learn about their own regulation system and how they can adjust it. 

Lessons are designed to help students understand their different internal emotions, sensory needs, and thinking patterns that result in each student shifting from one zone to another. Students explore a variety of tools that they can use to regulate what zone they are in and are taught when, why and how to use their tools.

The Zones of Regulation help students learn more about perspective taking to better understand how being in the different zones impacts others’ thoughts and feelings around them.

We welcome Mrs Nerida Gallagher to the staff of Melrose Park  PS. Nerida is our new Wellbeing Officer and will be available at school on Mondays and Fridays.

We thank Mrs Vicki Kwan for her contribution to the students and school especially throughout covid and learning from home time. We wish Vicki every success as she takes on a new opportunity in her career.

Mrs Gallagher is funded through the Federal Government Chaplaincy program  which supports the wellbeing of students and school communities through pastoral care services and student support strategies.  This funding is for 10 hour a week. During the first few weeks  Mrs Gallagher will spend time in classes getting to know the needs of students and classes.

At Melrose Park Mrs Gallagher role will include;

• working as a member of the school's wellbeing team in the delivery of student wellbeing services 
• contributing to improving student engagement and connections 
• contributing to providing a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment 
• providing pastoral care and guidance to students 
• operating within the school community and with external providers.

Congratulations to Freya on her success at the recent Ryde PSSA Zone Swimming Carnival.  Freya swam in multiple events and her success at this carnival has earned her an opportunity to swim at the Sydney North Area Carnival. We wish her good luck participating at this next level. 

Congratulations to all our other swimmers who participated in the Zone Carnival. All swimmers swam personal best times and proudly represented the school. Well done swimmers!

Our annual Cross Country carnival will be held on Monday 4th April.

The carnival will commence at 9:15 and conclude by 11am. Students will wear their sports uniform with their house colour t-shirt.

Parents are invited to join us for the carnival and stay for a picnic lunch with their children. If you are able to volunteer at the carnival, please let the office or Miss Fury know. It would be greatly appreciated.

Get your running shoes on and start training! Looking forward to a fun filled day.

Miss Fury  Coordinator

https://mppspc.com/product-category/uniform-shop/

Term 2 is just around the corner and this means a change into the winter uniforms. Now is a great time to check your child's uniforms for size and that it is in good condition.

Orders can be placed via the web site https://mppspc.com/product-category/uniform-shop/ and will be delivered to your child's classroom on a Tuesday.

It takes time for stock to arrive and our volunteers would appreciate your help by ordering early.   If you have any questions or need to contact our volunteers at the Uniform Shop please email them at 

Volunteers are always welcome to join the uniform committee.

Thanks

Uniform shop