Principals Message

Our staff participated in a highly productive and engaging Professional Learning Day, focused on strengthening outcomes for all members of our school community. While students enjoyed a pupil-free day, our teachers, Education Support staff, and Administration staff came together to learn, collaborate, and further refine our practice. 

A key focus of the day was whole-school wellbeing and the continued development of our classroom routines. Drawing on the latest educational research and evidence-informed practices, staff reflected on our existing approaches and identified opportunities for refinement. Consistency and predictability are essential elements of effective learning environments, and our team worked together to ensure that every classroom at St Mary's continues to provide students with a strong sense of safety, belonging, and success. 

We were also excited to begin our journey into Positive Education. Positive Education combines the science of psychology and neuroscience with effective educational practices, recognising that wellbeing and learning are deeply connected. Rather than focusing solely on challenges or difficulties, Positive Education seeks to build on individual strengths while developing the skills and resilience needed to navigate life's challenges. This approach complements and strengthens our existing school-wide positive behaviour framework, ensuring that we continue to support both the academic and personal growth of every student. 

The day also provided an important opportunity to deepen our understanding of the Child Safe Standards. Staff engaged in meaningful discussion and professional learning to ensure that St Mary's School Rushworth not only meets but exceeds its obligations in creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all children. Maintaining a strong child-safe culture remains a shared responsibility and a core priority for our entire school community. 

Professional learning days such as these are invaluable opportunities for our staff to grow together, challenge our thinking, and ensure that our practices remain aligned with the best available evidence. Ultimately, our commitment to ongoing improvement allows us to provide the highest quality education, wellbeing support, and care for every child entrusted to us. 

We look forward to sharing more about our Positive Education journey and the positive impact it will have across our school community in the months ahead. 

Angela Fiske-Kealy