MORE PARK PICTURES

The boys enjoying the climbing frame.

Other features of the park included these wildflowers:

Cloud formations:

and native and hybrid ducks

MORNING AT THE PARK

This is a small park we found on an excursion to buy some math gnome shapes(wooden finger puppets) in a country town near the city.

One interesting feature of said park was the animal shapes, carved or imprinted on rocks and other structures.

See if you can guess what this next one is?

ON BUTTERFLYS AND MORE

Positive First Aid for Eating Disorders:

(see

http://www.thebutterflyfoundation.org.au/)

1. It’s OK to talk about feelings
2. It’s OK to talk about eating disorders
3. Eating disorders are not a life-style choice
4. Eating disorders are not strictly about food or weight.
They are about feelings – fear, anxiety, loneliness and low self-esteem
5. Eating disorders can lead to depression and other risk-harming behaviours

Be Compassionate & Sensitive
Listen non-judgmentally. Be accepting and treat
sufferers with respect and dignity.

Be pro-active –get informed and educated
A lack of knowledge leads to a lack of understanding
and empathy.

Focus conversations on emotions not on behaviour,
food or weight. Choosing the right words can be very
hard – it can be helpful to think about what you are
going to say before you talk to the person.

Encourage and assist the seeking of appropriate
professional help. Provide useful information and
available options.
A hug can sometimes say more than words and show
that you care. Ask a sufferer if it’s ok to hug them.
patient and calm
Demonstrating your concern through panic or anger
can exacerbate the illness. Eating disorders develop
over time and take time to heal.
you care
Be genuine:It is important to let the person know you are raising
your concerns because you genuinely care. Tell those
who suffer that they are worthy, lovable, equal and
deserving, even if they don’t believe it.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Did you know that:

*Anorexia is the third most common chronic condition for adolescent girls (after obesity and asthma)

*The overall mortality rate for anorexia is 5 times that of the same aged population in general with death from natural causes(i.e cardiac arrhythmia, infection etc) being 4 times greater and deaths from unnatural causes 11 times greater.

*The risk of successful suicide in those suffering from Anorexia is 32 times that expected.

*That Anorexia is the most fatal of all psychiatric illnesses.

*The incidence of Bulimia Nervosa in the Australian population is 5 in 100(in the student population it is estimated to be 1 in 5)

*Girls as young as 7 are being diagnosed with Anorexia

*Dieting to control weight is generally ineffective and may actually promote weight gain

*Women who diet frequently are 75% more likely to experience depression

*Australians spend about $1 million a day on weight loss attempts with little success

Gifts at Christmas

Here are some Christmas presents made by ds18. for ds6 and ds10(who received an equivalent TER of 99.15 and an offer to study in Journalism and International Studies. Wouldn’t you say that was something to be proud of!)

Some photos of Mel before she went back.
We miss her very much.