Student Wellbeing
GEM Leaders
We are excited to announce that our Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness (GEM) Leaders program will continue in 2026! Students from Years 1–5 can apply for this special role, with one representative chosen from each class. GEM Leaders will support their peers in practising gratitude, showing empathy and developing mindfulness, thereby fostering positive wellbeing across the school. Applications for this exciting opportunity will open at the beginning of Term 2.
Harmony Week and Peace Pole Celebration
Over the past week, our school community has come together to celebrate Harmony Week and the special unveiling of our Peace Pole. These meaningful events have provided a wonderful opportunity for students to reflect on the importance of respect, inclusion and living in harmony with one another.
The Peace Pole unveiling was a beautiful and reflective moment for our students, staff and community. It stands as a powerful reminder of our shared commitment to kindness, positivity and peace within our school and beyond.
Throughout the week, students have been actively engaged in a range of learning experiences across the school, exploring themes of diversity, cultural identity and belonging. It has been fantastic to see classrooms filled with rich discussions, creative activities and thoughtful reflections.
Our school has also been brightened by wonderful displays showcasing student learning, with vibrant posters, messages of peace in different languages and celebrations of cultures from around the world. These displays highlight the pride our students have in who they are and the respect they show for others.
Our Foundation students have been exploring the meaning of the Peace Pole and what “peace” looks like in our everyday actions. As part of this learning, we invite families to share how their culture says "peace," which will contribute to a special whole-school display. Students have also been learning about Harmony Week by creating a beautiful “Peace Nest,” with orange birds representing each child, celebrating belonging, diversity and living together in harmony.
Our Year 1 students explored the concept of peace through a picture book and a “chalk talk,” sharing what peace looks like, sounds like and feels like in our world. Together, they generated thoughtful words and ideas connected to peace and harmony. Students also engaged with different symbols of peace, using these as inspiration to write words and sentences that reflect their understanding of living peacefully with others.
Our Year 2 students explored the concepts of peace and conflict, as well as harmony and discord, through a collaborative “chalk talk,” sharing and discussing their ideas together. These conversations helped deepen their understanding of how our actions can impact others. Students also worked together to create a class peace symbol, with each child decorating a section in orange to represent peace, unity and belonging within our school community.
Our Year 3 students explored the concepts of peace and harmony using a Y-chart, thinking about what these look like, sound like and feel like in their everyday lives. This helped them build a deeper understanding of how they can contribute to a positive and respectful community. To celebrate Harmony Week, students also created a love heart craft, symbolising kindness, inclusion and the importance of caring for one another.
Our Year 4 students explored their individual backgrounds, celebrating how each person is unique, valued and an important part of our community. They unpacked the meaning of the Peace Pole and reflected on what peace means to them. Students then shared their ideas through writing and created powerful posters with peace-focused slogans, which are proudly displayed around the school.
Our Year 5/6 students explored the concepts of peace and harmony, defining each and identifying their similarities and differences using a Venn diagram. This helped deepen their understanding of how these ideas connect in our everyday lives. Students then designed their own stamps to represent peace and harmony, showcasing their creativity and personal interpretations. As an extension, some students also wrote thoughtful letters to the community, sharing messages of unity, respect and inclusion.
We are incredibly proud of the way our students have embraced these important messages and demonstrated our school values in actions. Thank you to our staff, students and families for making this such a meaningful and successful celebration.
GATEWAYS
We are excited to offer the GATEWAYS Extension Program this term, with a workshop titled “Into the Unknown” focusing on Science and Investigations. This engaging program provides students with opportunities to develop scientific thinking, inquiry skills, and problem-solving through hands-on investigations and rich learning experiences. The workshop will be held at St Fidelis Primary School in Week 10 of Term 1.
Warm regards,
Vicky & Bianka