Student Support

Student Support

An element of our mission is to enable every child to develop to their full potential, therefore we aim to make the curriculum accessible for all students. For a small school, we have a really strong student support network. Children with learning or wellbeing needs, either requiring extension, reinforcement, strategies or a different learning environment can be included in programmes.

The school staff work in partnership with your family and other health or development professionals to ensure that any support programs are tailored to your child’s needs. Parents are invited to discuss any questions or concerns with the class teacher.


Wellbeing

Mentoring 

The aim of our mentoring program is to develop a trusting relationship that is likely to support students in both the classroom and in the yard, especially when difficult situations arise. This program is a personalised, positive and encouraging approach. Through games, activities and conversation, the program supports students to debrief, reflect, develop skills and confidence to discover new ways to interact, learn and work independently and with others.

 

What's the Buzz?

This social skills enrichment program is written by Mark LeMessurier. The program is designed to explicitly teach children how to think and relate socially.

The aim is for children to have a 45 minute session per week, within a small group of 4-6 children. The program is delivered through direct teaching, role play, quizzes and fun in the context of an encouraging group. We aim to have a group of mixed social abilities to help role model positive strategies and behaviours.
 
 

Seasons for Growth

Seasons for Growth is a program for children or young people who have experienced significant change or loss. Seasons for Growth is based on the belief that change, loss and grief are a normal and valuable part of life. It examines the impact of changes such as death, separation, divorce and natural disasters upon our lives, and explores how we can learn to live with and grow from these experiences. 
The core intentions of this program are the development of resilience and emotional literacy to promote social and emotional wellbeing. The program is educational in nature and does not provide therapy.
We use the imagery of the four seasons to illustrate that grief is cyclical, not a linear journey with a clear end. Participants share experiences, and support and learn from one another. Peer support is a key element of the program, and confidentiality is strongly emphasised. The program has three levels and can be repeated with each level offering different activities based at the child's development.

 

Resilience Project

The Resilience Project delivers emotionally engaging programs and provides evidence based, practical strategies to build resilience. The program consists of online presentations and lessons for students, professional development for staff, and a video series for our parent and carer community which we will be sharing over the coming weeks.

This will be an important part of our school’s effort to look after the mental health of our community and support the students in the health programs we currently implement.

The program’s core practices of Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness will also complement the Catholic ethos of our school, centred around Jesus’ story and the tradition and mission of Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph. 

 

Butterfly Body Bright

Butterfly Body Bright takes a whole school approach to support positive body image in children. Developed by Butterfly’s Prevention Team, Body Bright is a strength-based, evidence-informed program designed for Australian primary schools.

The program aims to promote healthy attitudes and behaviours towards the body, eating, and physical activity in children so they can thrive both at school and in life. Body Bright provides resources and support to teachers as well as their broader school community. It takes a village to raise a child! 

 

Peaceful Kids

‘Peaceful Kids’ is a Mindfulness and Positive Psychology based program to lessen anxiety and stress and increase resilience in children. The program has been created to fulfil a need in schools to offer all children a developmentally appropriate program that gives children the skills, practice and support to utilize coping strategies that lessen the symptoms of anxiety and stress.

The program runs for 8 weeks in groups of 4-6 students. Children are guided through meditations, coping strategies and techniques to lessen worry, journaling, facing challenges step by step and being attuned to their own mind and bodies. Because of the different cognitive abilities of children, this program is only offered to children in Year 2 and above.