Wellbeing
Respectful Relationships
October 31st, 2025
Dear Parents/Carers
Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships
Our Lady of the Southern Cross Catholic Primary School is a proud Respectful Relationships school.
The Respectful Relationships framework came about after the Royal Commission into Family Violence identified the critical role that schools have in creating a culture of respect and equality to change the story of gender-based violence for future generations. The resources have been developed by experts from Deakin University and the University of Melbourne.
Research tells us that providing respectful relationships education at school can lead to positive impacts on students’ academic outcomes, their mental health, classroom behaviour and relationships.
Respectful Relationships is implemented by using a suite of teaching and learning materials for Prep-Year 12, called “Resilience, rights and respectful relationships”. We do this within the context of shared Catholic faith and moral teachings and build from an understanding of the Catholic vision of the human person.
The resources are age-appropriate to support curriculum delivery and include lesson plans and activities that help students learn and practice social skills and apply them in a positive way to learning, life and relationships. The resources support a whole school approach to creating equal and respectful attitudes, behaviours, structures and practices across the school culture and ethos.
The whole school approach to Respectful Relationships supports us to embed a culture of respect and gender equality across the entire school community. It teaches our students how to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence. They are given the opportunity to explore emotions such as anger and frustration, develop non-violent problem-solving strategies, face life's challenges by developing problem-solving skills and build resilience and confidence as well as teaching them how to build healthy relationships.
The Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships resources have 8 topics that teach students about emotional literacy, personal and cultural strengths, resilience, problem-solving, stress-management, help-seeking, gender norms and stereotypes and positive gender relations. Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships teaching and learning materials have been developed by education experts. These age-appropriate resources help students learn and practice social skills and apply them in a positive way to learning, life and relationships. The activities involve teacher-student and student-to student interaction, and include:
- role-play
- small group problem-solving discussions
- critical-thinking tasks
- practical strategies
- skills-development exercises & themed games
This term we will be covering Topic 7: Gender norms and stereotypes & Topic 8 Positive gender relationships:
Topic 7: Gender norms and stereotypes helps students consider the influence of gender norms on attitudes, opportunities and behaviour, and to learn about gender equality, inclusion, human rights and the importance of relationships that respect people of all genders.
Topic 8 Positive gender relationships helps students develop an age-appropriate understanding of gender-based violence, safe and unsafe behaviours and consent. Students also develop self-care, peer support and help-seeking skills they can use in response to situations involving gender-based violence.
The aim of Respectful Relatships Framework is to continue to build a culture of Respect, Resilience and Equality at OLSC ‘where every child is valued’.
If you gave any concerns or would like further information do not hesitate to contact:
Sandy: shenderson@olscwyn.catholic.edu.au
Kiah: kmiles@olscwyn.catholic.edu.au
Justin: jhilton@olscwyn.catholic.edu.au
Cheers
Sandy & Kiah
Wellbeing Leaders
Multicultural Day 2025
We are looking forward to celebrating the uniqueness of our school community on Thursday November 6th. All families are invited to a whole school assembly @ 9am with a Parade of Nations. Families are welcome to bring food and after the assembly share a cuppa & chat together in the staffroom.
Positive Behaviours for Learning
As part of our ongoing development as a PBL school we continue to explicitly teach & model expectations from our matrix. Our data has shown that we need to reteach the following expectations.
The foci for the beginning of Term 4 are:
Respect:
We are patient
We listen to & follow the instructions of all staff
We respect other peoples belongings
Responsibility:
We take ownership of our choices
Resilience:
We learn from our mistakes
We have high expectations of ourselves & others
We have a growth mindset.
We encourage all families to talk to their children about these expectations...what they look like, sound like & feel like.
Sun Smart
It's that time of year again when all students must wear a hat when outside. It is strongly suggested that the hat be a bucket style as this gives the best protection. School hats are available from the uniform shop. Please make sure your child's hat has their name on it. Students who do not have a hat will be asked to stay in the shade as we do have...
NO HAT, NO PLAY
If you have any concerns or need help in any way please contact Sandy - shenderson@olscwyn.catholic.edu.au or Kiah - kmiles@olscwyn.catholic.edu.au - Alternatively you can phone the school office.
Cheers
Sandy & Kiah