The character dispositions we seek to instil in our students are to be ‘Bold, Independent, Resilient and Creative’. These dispositions complement our School Values and the family values which are so important to educating well-rounded young people, who have a strong sense of belonging, but also the courage and confidence to move beyond their comfort zone.

This week we are proud to be launching our weThrive Wellbeing Platform for Parents, an online parenting resource which will further support the invaluable partnership between home and School.

Parents can access an extensive range of wellbeing and mental health resources which have been developed by psychologists, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg and Dr Emma Woodward, who bring together a range of resources from other trusted wellbeing professionals.

In addition to Special Reports on topical issues, parents can access archived topics and practical advice on an array of issues and challenges that can affect primary and secondary school students which include:

• Cybersafety
• Mental Health
• School Survival
• Healthy Body
• Positive Parenting

This week’s Special Report is on Managing Overwhelm.

We have chosen to feature this topic this week, as, in addition to the ongoing challenges of the COVID 19 pandemic, young people are now attempting to process the gravity and human cost of the conflict in Ukraine, as well as images of human struggle in the face of natural disaster in our own country. Our connectivity to the digital world exposes us to a barrage of messages that can leave us feeling overwhelmed.

Exposure to media reports, without critical analysis and perspective can lead to increased feelings of worry and anxiety. It is therefore important for adult carers to check in with their children and be aware of what information they may have been exposed to. It may not necessarily be the information itself that is harmful, but more their inability to process and make sense of it.

Although filmed prior to the war in Ukraine, this Special Report, by Child and Adolescent Psychologist, Dr Emma Woodward includes a number of strategies to help manage any feelings of overwhelm that you, or your child may be experiencing.

The strategies discussed here, including emotional regulation, developing critical thinking skills, encouraging mindfulness, and practising gratitude, reflection and journaling are reinforced in the weThrive: Wellbeing@St Catherine’s program.

You may also find the following resources useful: How to Talk to Your Kids about the War Between Ukraine and Russia

A resource for adults: If You’re Distressed about the News in Ukraine, follow these steps

If you have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact her Head of Year, the School Counsellor or seek medical or professional help.