Three members of Royal Far West’s Community Recovery Services team visited Kia Ora State School between 12th February and 15th February to deliver the following supports:
- A children’s small group for Year 3-6 students at the school. The group program, Stormbirds, supported students who have experienced grief, change, loss and natural disasters to understand that change is a part of life; learn how to name and care for feelings; and build their support networks.
- Two Stormbirds Reconnector sessions with children who participated in the Stormbirds group during last year’s visit. We reflected on learning from the Stormbirds program, identified changes that have happened since last time, shared coping strategies, and reconnected as a group. The children were excited to receive Think Feel Do Bears and to practise some relaxation strategies with them.
- Prep-Year 3 children attended a whole-class session delivered by the RFW multidisciplinary team using the Birdie’s Tree picture book, Birdie and the Storm, and the beautiful Birdie and Mr Frog puppets. The sessions focused on developing students’ emotional literacy and supporting their sense of safety and self-efficacy. As soon as our RFW speechie introduced and opened the book, the sky itself ripped open and started absolutely pouring! The children were half-delighted and half-terrified, so it opened up some great conversations and co-regulation opportunities in real time.
- A professional learning workshop on Educator Wellbeing, where staff reflected on strategies that support their own regulation, made “regulation boats” out of clay, and were provided with Be You educator wellbeing resources.
- In-class support with RFW occupational therapist and speech pathologist, who provided educators with feedback, advice and resources to support students’ learning and engagement.
