Community Wellness

Restorative Practices

You might notice your child saying things like, “Please be patient,” or, “Let’s work it out.” That’s not by chance. At school, we’re putting a lot of energy into using positive language. We want students to get comfortable talking about their feelings, showing empathy, and sorting out problems with words. 

This focus isn’t just about helping kids get along at school. These skills carry over into family life and friendships outside the classroom. When children learn to express themselves clearly and kindly, it makes life a bit easier for everyone. 

We see the benefits every day, kids who can talk things through, handle tricky moments, and support each other. It’s a simple shift, but it makes a big difference. A beautiful example witnessed this week involved a group of boys in a disagreement around footy at lunchtime causing some big emotions. With minimal guidance, the boys were able to talk about the issue, identify what really upset them and set about making things right, starting with apologies and commitments for what their play looks like going forward. A wonderful outcome that strengthened their relationship and highlighted the continual work teachers are putting in to ensure a safe calm and restorative culture at St. Mary’s. 

SchoolTV 

A Special Report: Celebrating Father’s Day 

For many years now, the role of fathers has changed and evolved. During the industrial revolution, fathers were often considered detached and distant due to working long hours in factories. However, today things have changed dramatically with many dads being celebrated for being sensitive, caring and more hands-on. 

Recent studies have shown that children benefit greatly from having fathers who are present and interacting in everyday activities. This has transformed the understanding of how fathers shape children’s lives from the start, challenging conventional ideas of parenthood and gender. 

Research also suggests that fathers influence their sons and daughters in different ways, which is especially true during their transition to adolescence. Engaging in regular physical activities can play a key role in influencing children to learn self-control, face challenges, regulate emotions and take manageable risks. 

In this Special Report, fathers will learn about the positive impact they can have on their child’s mental health and wellbeing, whilst also ensuring they indulge in a little self-care. 

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback. 

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help. 

Here is the link to your special report: 

https://smechuca.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/celebrating-fathers-day 

Attendance

Our attendance data shows that most students have been here, on time and ready to learn. This consistency makes a huge difference to both academic progress and wellbeing. Thank you to families for continuing to prioritise punctuality and regular attendance. 

Every day at school really does matter. A child who misses even one day each fortnight will have lost the equivalent of more than a full term of learning by the end of the year. We are committed to working with families to support strong attendance, so please reach out if you need assistance in this space. 

With only 2 weeks left of term, we are encouraging families to prioritise punctual school attendance knowing that a holiday break is not far away. 

Behaviour Curriculum 

We’ve been celebrating the strength of our behaviour curriculum in classrooms this week. Teachers have been deliberately reteaching and reinforcing routines and expectations so that every learner knows exactly what success looks like. Parents will be glad to hear that this consistency is creating calm, settled classrooms where more time is focused on learning. 

One example witnessed throughout the week came from a Year 4 class, where students transitioned from group work to whole-class discussion in under 20 seconds, without reminders! These kinds of routines may look and sound simple, but they are the product of impressive teaching, modelling, and practice. They also make sure every child has the best possible environment to learn and thrive.