Child Safety / Pastoral Wellbeing

Pastoral Wellbeing

Dear Families,

Welcome back to the 2025 school year.  A special welcome to the Foundation students and families. 

This term, in Pastoral Wellbeing, we begin with a new Whole School Procedure - Lining Up.

Routines are extremely important for students to feel safe at school.  It is crucial at the beginning of a school year to re-establish an understanding of how we move around the school in a calm and safe manner. 

Resilience in Children – Going Back to School Happy Families – Dr Justin Coulson

Build Relationships

One of the best predictors of children’s wellbeing at school is the quality of their relationships.  Put simply, kids typically like school when they’ve got good friends there.  In the lead up to starting school and in the first few weeks of school try to get your kids involved with other children in the holidays, on the weekend, and after school.

Get Routines Right

In my book, 21 Days to a Happier Family, I highlight the way that routines make life easier because we free up cognitive space.  When we have a routine (and a checklist!), we don’t have to think. This means less anxiety and more efficiency.  So, I focus on my morning, afternoon, and evening routine.  Mornings should be built around waking up at the right time (or even a bit early), eating good food, preparing good food for the day, and leaving on time.

Afternoons should be focused on rejuvenation and recovery from a long day.  A bit of down time before extracurricular activities, reading, or household chores (or homework for older kids) can go a long way to making the afternoon go well.

Evenings should emphasize relationships and nurture, reduced screen-time, and plenty of sleep. We also want to get things ready for the morning. Prepping uniforms, shoes, lunchboxes and so on can make mornings magic, rather than mayhem.  Remember, your morning starts the night before. 

Inform & Empower – Cyber Safety & Digital Wellbeing

This year, St Joseph’s will begin a new whole school program which will involve love them in participating in interactive live-streamed incursions each term.  This program involves being safe online as well as fostering digital wellbeing.

Child Safety

At all times, the ongoing safety and well-being of all children and young people will be the primary focus of care and decision-making, with particular attention paid to the most vulnerable children, including Aboriginal children, children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with a disability, children who are unable to live at home, international students, and students of diverse sexuality.

To create and maintain a safe environment and nurturing culture, CES Ltd and St Joseph's Primary School will actively and continually develop and review all policies, processes and practices, informed and responsive to legislation and evidence.

The St Joseph's Primary, Quarry Hill Child Safety, Student Behaviours, Duty of Care, Complaints Management and Enrolment Policies and Procedures are available from the St Joseph's Website: www.sjquarryhill.catholic.edu.au

Positive Behaviours Intervention and Support (P.B.i.S)

PBIS, or Positive Behavioural Interventions and Supports, is a proactive approach to school-wide expectations.  It focuses on teaching positive behaviours, and creating a safe and supportive environment for all students.  PBIS encourages good behaviour through recognition and reinforcement, fostering a positive school culture where every child can thrive.

Thank you for your support with Pastoral Wellbeing at St Joseph’s.

Please contact me with any questions or queries in the area of wellbeing.

Elise Nally

Pastoral Wellbeing Leader