Grief program offered at Woy Woy

Woy Woy Public School will again offer its Seasons for Growth program in term four.

The program aims to teach children strategies to help them cope with change, loss and grief in their lives.

The program will initially be offered to Stage 3 students who may have experienced grief due to a significant loss and will be offered to stage 1 and 2 students next year.

School chaplain Mr Sam Collins said the grief response may be triggered by a number of reasons including the death of a family member or friend, family separation or divorce or other significant changes to a child's life.

"The program allows children to normalise change and helps them to validate the feelings and emotions associated with change," said Mr Collins.

"For the effectiveness of the program, it is a requirement that the children attend the course six months after the event of grief taking place," he said.

The children will meet peers in a small, confidential group accompanied by Mr Collins, a trained facilitator.

Newsletter, 11 Sep 2012

Kevin Lane, Woy Woy Public School