Wellbeing At McAuley 

Healthy Eating at School

Keep healthy foods in your home

There are two benefits to keeping your kitchen stocked with healthy foods: 

• Your children will get used to eating healthier foods and learn to enjoy them. This means they’ll be less likely to return home with uneaten lunch because they don’t like what you’ve packed. 
• It’s much faster to pack healthy school lunches for your child when your choices are limited to mainly healthy foods. 

Add Variety

An easy way to ensure your child has a variety of food groups is by using a multi-compartment lunch box, like a bento box. 

Get your child involved in packing their lunch

As children, many of you probably had days when you hungrily opened your lunch boxes only to be disappointed by what was inside. It’s normal for children to have foods they like and dislike.  

That’s why it’s a good idea to get your child involved in packing their lunch so that they can choose the foods they like. It also gives you an opportunity to explain why certain foods are better for them than others.  

Supporting School Attendance

At McAuley we understand that getting to school each day can sometimes feel overwhelming for children and families. School refusal is not about “naughty” behaviour — it is often linked to anxiety, friendship concerns, learning challenges, or changes at home.

Regular attendance is important for children’s academic progress, social development, and sense of belonging. Even missing one day a fortnight can add up over time and impact learning and friendships.

If your child is showing signs of reluctance to attend school — such as frequent tummy aches, heightened worry on school mornings, tearfulness, or difficulty separating — early support makes a big difference. Helpful strategies can include:

• Keeping morning routines calm and predictable
• Using brief, confident goodbyes
• Working with the teacher to create a supported entry plan
• Celebrating small attendance successes
• Maintaining consistent expectations about school attendance

Our wellbeing team is here to work alongside families. If you have concerns about your child’s attendance, please reach contact the wellbeing team via the school email.

We want every child to feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.