Posted: CGGS Newsletter No. 5 - 7 Mar 2008

The Junior School is a Kidsmatter School. Kidsmatter is a government initiative which promotes mental wellbeing amongst primary aged students.

One of the components which the initiative identifies as important in improving the mental health and wellbeing of students is the fostering of a ‘positive school community’. A number of actions have been identified by the Kidsmatter Action Team which will further enhance our thriving community spirit. One of these is the creation of Class Parent Representatives. Each class in the Early Learning Centre and Junior School has some parents who have taken on this important role. On Tuesday the Class Parent Representatives joined Heather Ablett (Head of Junior School), Damaris Patterson (Assistant Deputy Principal, ELC-Y2) and Jayne Francis (Kidsmatter Action Team Parent Representative) for an informal afternoon tea at the Aquatic Centre. The parents were briefed with some suggestions of how the role may be developed at the class level such as welcoming new families to the school, organising parent ‘get togethers’, organising family picnics and encouraging families to attend school functions.

Kidsmatter research shows that children are less likely to suffer from mental health problems if their parents feel welcomed by the school community. Furthermore parents are more likely to access greater support and assistance for children who at risk of, or who are experiencing, mental health problems if they feel at ease in the school environment.

Thank you to those parents who have offered to take on these important roles. If you are unsure who the Parent Representatives are for your child’s class please ask their class teacher.

Damaris Patterson
Assistant Deputy Principal (ELC-Year 2)