Change and loss affect all of us at some stage in our lives. At St Monica’s we recognise that when changes occur in families through death, separation, divorce or related circumstances, young people benefit from learning how to manage these changes effectively. Seasons for Growth  is an Australian program that provides opportunities for students in Years 1-6 to integrate the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes to understand and cope with change, loss and grief, using the symbolism of the four seasons.

Beginning early in Term 3 we will be offering the Seasons for Growth program. Mr Bob Fletcher, a trained ‘Companion’, will spend time with small groups of students who are dealing with some aspect of change, separation, loss or grief. The sessions do not provide counselling or therapy and are not designed to prepare children for imminent grief or loss. Instead, the program aims to specifically assist children who have had a change in their lives through death, separation or divorce. It does this through encouraging the expression of thoughts and emotions, educating about the grief process, developing a peer support network and drawing on extensive research in developing a sound educative response to loss and grief.

Seasons for Growth is an eight session program and will be conducted during school hours with children being withdrawn from class. It is recommended that at least six months passes after the loss, as children are then in a better position to cope with the program.

If this is the first time your child/children will be participating in the program, it is essential that you have this information in order to ascertain if the program will meet the needs of your child/children. Please indicate on the return slip if you would like to personally discuss the program or require more information in print.

Please contact Bob Fletcher, our program co-ordinator if you would like more information.

The following table provides an overview of the way in which Season for Growth integrates the grief tasks with the program contact.

 Overview of Program and Content Topics