Discipling Your Child

Wellbeing Parent Information Session

Thank you to the parents who attended our recent parent information session 'Discipling Your Child'. We discussed the difference between discipline and discipleship and how these two words may be interpreted in line with scripture. As Nick Haines said, we are a community working together to raise young people who know the Lord and as parents we all need help to do this! I believe the key take away would be; "Children behave best when they feel: safe, secure, and connected." In this session, our Counsellors Melissa and Chloe taught us that the goal of a parent is not to punish children into compliance but to guide them, teach them, walk alongside them to raise people of character and faith. Taking the time to reflect helps parents understand how their behaviour, boundaries, and communication influence a child’s emotional wellbeing, confidence, and development.

The Parent Wellbeing Resources page on the Hub contains a link to session handouts for both 'Emotional Regulation' and 'Discipling Your Child'. This Hub page also contains links to resources such as Focus on the Family, Visible Wellbeing, Cyber Safety Webinars, and Solid Rock Psychology, one of our preferred Christian providers of psychological services for families.

As a College we seek to serve your family. Please reach out and connect if you have any questions at mheading@standrews.vic.edu.au.

Teen Mental Health First Aid Course

This term our Years 7 and 9 students are participating in Teen Mental Health First Aid, an internationally accredited course that helps young people recognise the signs and symptoms of an emerging mental health problem or crisis in their friend. They learn the MHFA Action Plan (Look, Ask, Listen, Help, Your Friend) and work through fictitious scenarios to help them embed their learning in age-appropriate and practical ways. We are privileged to have fully accredited Mental Health First Aiders on staff who provide a Christ-centred approach to teaching about mental health. As parents, please join in the mental health conversation with your child, helping to de-stigmatise mental health and promote life, healing and connecting with support. As many of the students have already recognised, being a Christian, and part of a faith community, serves to be a protective factor for those struggling with their mental health. What a privilege to be part of St Andrews Christian College