Beginning early Term 3, we will be implementing a 9 session program called ‘Seasons for Growth’. Staff who are formally trained as ‘Companions’, spend time with a small group of students who are dealing with some aspect of change, separation, loss or grief. The sessions do not provide counselling or therapy. Instead, they:

• aim to support young people to understand and manage the grief that is experienced because of change, the loss of a parent or significant other through death, separation or divorce.
• assist in normalising the emotions associated with the loss
• encourage the expression of thoughts and emotions
• educate about the grief process
• develop a peer support network
• help restore self-confidence and self esteem
• draw on extensive research in developing a sound educative response to loss and grief.

‘Seasons for Growth’ provides opportunities for students in  Years 1 to 6 to integrate the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes to understand and cope with change, loss and grief, using the symbolism of the four Seasons. It helps children to:

• accept the reality of loss
• work through the pain of grief
• adjust to an environment in which a significant person is no longer present
• emotionally relocate and move on with life.

However, they do suggest that the young person completes the program six to twelve months after the loss, as they are in better position to cope with the program.

As recommended by the Good Grief Organisation, each child should only complete the program once in each of the three stages. This effectively means that students can only participate in the program every second year at school.

This program is strictly confidential and implemented with discretion and sensitivity. Please feel free to talk to me if you have any concerns or issues you would like to further discuss regarding this nomination. If you think that this program is something that your child or children would benefit from, please write their names below and the reason for nomination and send it back to school in a sealed envelope, addressed to Mrs Haines.  Please return nomination form by Friday 27^th May.

After nominations are made and numbers are ascertained, a permission slip and further information will be sent home via your child.

Mrs Karen Haines

Religious Education Coordinator

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Seasons for Growth Nomination Form 2022

I/We _____________________________ would like to nominate our child/ren for the Seasons for   Growth program for 2022.

Child/ren’s names:

1. _____________________________ Class: ______________

Reason for nomination:

___________________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________ Class: ______________

Reason for nomination:

___________________________________________________________________

Parents/Carers signature:

__________________________________________________