Wellbeing

 PBL

At SFS, our PBL (Positive Behaviours for Learning) school wide expectations are:

Respect, 

Responsibility and 

Kindness

For this week’s PBL lesson, the whole school participated in the Kids Helpline largest online bullying lesson. This was livestreamed to primary school children at 1 pm on Monday all around Australia. Throughout this week the children will be learning about the importance of this year’s theme of Bullying no way week, which is “Be bold. Be Kind. Speak up”. This is linked to our PBL expected behaviour matrix under KINDNESS: Encourage and support others and Be thoughtful of others. The students were involved in discussions around promoting empathy, understanding and respect for diversity

Here are some photos of students who won the PBL raffle last week for demonstrating expected behaviours. Well done to these children.

Bullying No Way: National Wek of Action

This week we celebrated “Bullying no way week”. The children were allowed to wear “a touch of purple” to school on Monday and all students participated in the largest online anti bullying lesson on Monday. 

Why it matters?

One in six Australian students report being bullied at school. Bullying can seriously affect a child’s confidence, mental health and learning. But research shows that strong, connected families can help prevent bullying. Children are less likely to experience bullying – or to demonstrate bullying behaviour – when they feel safe, supported and know what respectful behaviour looks like.

What is bullying? 

Bullying is when someone deliberately and repeatedly hurts or intimidates another person, often using their power to cause harm. It may be face-to-face or online and includes: 

• verbal (e.g. name-calling, teasing, threats)

 • physical (e.g. hitting, pushing, damaging property) 

• social (e.g. excluding others, spreading rumours) 

• online (e.g. hurtful messages, posting private images).

It’s important to know that bullying is not just a one-off disagreement or occasional teasing. Those situations can still cause harm, but bullying is targeted, repeated, and creates a power imbalance. 

Ways to strengthen family connections

 • Spend time one-on-one – even 10 minutes of child-led time a day strengthens trust.

 • Family time – scheduled regular shared family time is linked to better behaviour and communication.

 • Listen without judging – ask open questions, and let your child express themselves fully.

 • Be a role model – show kindness and respect in your own relationships, online and offline.

 • Be consistent – clear routines and boundaries help children feel secure and respected. 

Conversation starters

 Keeping the conversation open can help your child feel safe to talk. Try:

 • “Who did you spend time with today?”

 • “What was something that made you smile?”

 • “Was there anything that made you feel uncomfortable or upset?”

If your child is being bullied

 • Stay calm and thank them – “it’s really brave of you to tell me.” 

• Describe what’s happening – “that sounds like bullying because it’s happening often.”

 • Make a plan – keep a record, talk to the adults that can provide support, and set follow-up steps.

 • Rehearse responses – help your child practice confident ways to ask for help or walk away safely.

 • Keep checking in – ask how they’re feeling and monitor any changes in mood or behaviour.

If your child is demonstrating bullying behaviour 

• Stay curious, not angry – “can you help me understand what’s been going on?”

 • Talk about empathy – “what do you think the other person felt?”

 • Set clear expectations – “in this family, we treat others with fairness and respect.”

 • Guide them to repair harm – talk about apologies, making amends, or writing a note.

 • Work with the school/community group – ask about positive behaviour support or mentoring programs. 

Getting help 

• If it happens at school or in the community – talk to your child’s teacher, principal, coach or other trusted adult.

 • If it’s online – save messages, block the person, report the content and visit esafety.gov.au. • If someone is in danger – Call 000 straight away. 

Support for families 

• Kids Helpline Free 24/7 counselling for children and young people aged 5–25 Contact 1800 55 1800 kidshelpline.com.au 
• Headspace Mental health support for 12–25-yearolds headspace.org.au 
• Parentline Confidential support for parents and carers Parentline in your state or territory Raising Children Network Trusted parenting advice, videos and tools raisingchildren.net.au Bullying No Way National resource on bullying prevention bullyingnoway.gov.au 
• eSafety Commissioner Cyberbullying info and reporting platform esafety.gov.au

During the week we engaged students in meaningful discussions and activities aimed at promoting empathy, understanding and respect for diversity. We encourage families to take this opportunity to have open and honest conversations with your child about the impact of bullying and what they can do if they need support. 

You can visit the Bullying No Way website for tips around how to have this discussion.

You can access the school’s bullying prevention policy to learn more about our process for preventing and responding to bullying. You will find the policy on the school website under policies/Care safety and welfare of students/bullying prevention policy.

If you have concerns that your child is being bullied, please contact your child’s class teacher.If you believe the behaviour constitutes a crime, or is a serious incident of cyberbullying, please refer to the Bullying No Way website for information on how to report to other authorities and access wellbeing help. I am happy to help also, please feel free to speak with me at school or email me, rlenko@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

Bullying – important conversations to have with your child.

St Francis de Sales is proud to participate in the Bullying No Way: National week of action – 11 to 15 August 2025. 

By working collaboratively within our community, we can collectively help reduce bullying.

Families play an important role in helping children understand bullying and know how to respond to it.

If your child tells you about things at school, or you observe something in public that involves conflict or bullying, take the opportunity to talk about what bullying is. You can learn more about what defines bullying at bullyingnoway.gov.au.

Questions you could ask:

What do you think bullying is?

Have you seen it? How did you feel?

Have you ever felt scared at school because of bullying?

As well as me, who are the other adults you would talk to when it comes to things like bullying?

Have you or your friends left other kids out on purpose? Do you think that was bullying? Why or why not?

Have you ever tried to help someone who is being bullied? What happened? What would you do if it happens again?

Remind your child that bullying is never okay and discuss how they can respond safely if they experience or witness it.

Encourage them to seek help from a trusted adult and keep seeking support if needed.

By promoting open communication, we empower children to stand up against bullying and create a safer environment where everyone can feel that they belong.

For more information visit bullyingnoway.gov.au

Annual SFS Twilight Market

We will be having our annual SFS Twilight market this year on Thursday 6th November 2025. 

This is an event always enjoyed by our school community. I am in the process of looking for stalls. The market will run from 5 pm to 8 pm. 

It is an outdoor market unless in the event of rain, will be held in the hall.

Brainstorm Productions: Being Brave theatre performance

When children experience change, bullying, loss and other stressful life events, it can have a huge impact on their behaviour and wellbeing. They may worry about themselves, their families and the world.

Being Brave is a live show that gives students positive strategies to cope with emotions and adapt to change at school, at home and online. Fly is a young boy 

whose parents have separated. He misses his dad desperately and tries to be brave by keeping his emotions ‘bottled up’. He meets Isha, who has been forced to come to a new country. Tim is being bullied and Billie is learning to face her fears. Mrs Russo wants to connect safely with her family online and Celia is coming to terms with loss in her family.

By connecting with the people in his community, Fly discovers the true meaning of being brave: sharing stories, showing feelings, keeping good memories and living life.

Researched and developed in consultation with teachers and psychologists, this live theatre in education program uses song, dance and storytelling to provide students with positive coping strategies.

Designed to support your school’s existing student wellbeing program and facilitate further learning in the classroom, Being Brave empowers children to seek help and face life’s challenges with confidence and compassion.

An Operoo notice has gone out to parents about this performance. Please make sure you go and accept and acknowledge for your children on Operoo. Thank you.

I am available at school Monday to Thursday. If any parents have a wellbeing concern they would like to discuss, please do not hesitate to contact me at school or send me an email rlenko@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au 

Rachel Lenko

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader

QUOTE OF THE DAY 

Be bold. Be kind. Speak up. Every small action at home helps create a safer and more respectful community for all young people.

Rachel Lenko

rlenko@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader