Wellbeing News

Better Buddies Day - Harmony Day 

This Term, we will be celebrating our first Better Buddies Day for 2025 with a focus on Harmony Day. Harmony Week, Monday 17 - Sunday 23 March 2025, is a special celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.​ 

 We will celebrate Harmony Day on Monday 24 March. 

Students will be welcomed to wear traditional or cultural dress on this day, or a touch of orange to represent Harmony. 

If you can support our school in this celebration of diversity, with information or wish to  contribute on the day, this could be about art, food, culture, history, dance, please contact Brooke Davis bdavis@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au

Better Buddies Day is to support the Preps and the new students in their transition to our school, to ensure they feel welcome and safe and build familiarity with the school environment.  It is also an opportunity for all students to build positive relationships across the school, enhancing their sense of belonging and connectedness. 

The Better Buddies faith based values will be highlighted throughout the day – these are friendliness, caring for others, respect, valuing difference, including others and responsibility.

Better Buddies purple mascot is 'Buddy Bear' (see below for what the bear represents) These bears remind students that the messages of Better Buddies Day are continued in everyday school life.  

Ride 2 School Day - Friday 21 March

On Friday 21 March, we will be taking part in Ride to School Day. We hope that by participating in this initiative it will:

• Promote Healthy Lifestyles – integrates physical activity, helping students and adults to incorporate walking and biking into a daily routine and all year round.
• Strengthen the Community – neighbours and families have an opportunity to interact with each other while walking and biking on their way to school and bringing together a sense of community.
• Raise Environmental Awareness – walking and biking to school results in fewer vehicles on the streets therefore reducing air pollution and traffic congestion.  
• Promote Walking and Biking Safely – children develop and learn life skills from adults accompanying them along walks preparing them for road safety and personal awareness skills.
• Increase School Spirit – children and adults alike have the opportunity to come together and celebrate the event while taking pride in what they are doing.

We do not need students to register for the riding school group, however, we do require parent volunteers for this event. If you can be a parent supervisor on the walk please email Brooke Davis bdavis@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au or contact the office by Monday 17 March. It is essential that you have a current Working with Children Check that has been verified at the school office. 

Further details and confirmed routes about our Ride 2 School event will be communicated in the coming weeks.