Wellbeing
🧡 Harmony Day – Thursday, March 21st 🧡
At St Mary’s, we are lucky to be part of a school community that is welcoming, kind, and full of different cultures. On Thursday, March 21st, we will be celebrating Harmony Day! It’s a special day where we recognised and celebrated what makes each of us unique and remind one another that everyone belongs. We are so proud of our inclusive and caring school community.
NAPLAN – Well Done Year 3 and Year 5!
Over the past two weeks, our Year 3 and Year 5 students have taken part in NAPLAN assessments. Students showed incredible resilience, one of our core school values, as they approached each assessment with a positive attitude, determination, and care for their own wellbeing and that of their classmates.
NAPLAN provides one opportunity to reflect on learning and helps prepare students for future challenges by building important skills like focus, problem-solving, and perseverance. Most importantly, it’s just one part of their learning journey, and it doesn’t measure the kindness, creativity, and friendship they bring to our school every day.
We are so proud of how our students gave their best effort, supported each other, and showed what it means to be responsible, respectful, and resilient learners. These experiences help set them up for success now and in the future.
Well done to our everyone!
Peaceful Kids Program
This week, Sharon Hynes and I were fortunate to attend the Peaceful Kids training. The Peaceful Kids program helps students in many ways that positively impact their learning and academic success. By teaching mindfulness and coping strategies, students learn how to manage stress and anxiety, which are common barriers to concentration and learning. When children feel calmer and less overwhelmed, they are more focused and ready to engage in their learning.
Through regular mindfulness practice, students develop greater attention skills and emotional regulation. This means they can better concentrate in class, listen to instructions, and persevere through challenging tasks without becoming discouraged. The program also builds resilience and self-confidence, which encourages a positive mindset towards learning and school life.
Many parents and teachers report improvements in students’ ability to stay on task, problem solve, and work independently after participating in Peaceful Kids. These skills not only help them manage everyday challenges but also contribute to their overall wellbeing, creating a strong foundation for academic success.
As educators and wellbeing leaders, it’s incredibly rewarding to watch students grow in confidence, self-awareness, and resilience through this program. Parents frequently share how they’ve noticed positive changes at home as their children practice mindfulness and use calming strategies they’ve learned in Peaceful Kids.
The Peaceful Kids program is more than just a course, it’s an empowering experience that supports the wellbeing of children, teens, parents, and even the educators who deliver it.
We are looking forward to bringing Peaceful Kids to our school community soon! We can’t wait to offer our students this valuable opportunity to learn skills that will support them both now and in the future.
If you’d like to learn more about the program, visit:
Mindfulness, Positive Psychology & Parenting:
https://padlet.com/info959/mindfulness-positive-psychology-parenting-www-peacefulkids-c-qjf0hp540ep8
Watch this space for more information!
Student Wellbeing Tip - The 3 Good Things Challenge!
We’re encouraging families to take part in our Gratitude Challenge at home!
Each day, ask your child:
“What are 3 good things that happened today?” It could be something simple like playing with a friend, learning something new, or enjoying their favourite lunch.
Why? Taking time to notice and talk about the positives in our day helps children feel happier, calmer, and more connected. It also builds resilience.
Join us in building a culture of gratitude and wellbeing at our school. Challenge yourselves to notice the good things, big or small, each day!
Staying Connected with Your Child’s Teacher
We very much value open communication between parents and teachers to support student learning and wellbeing. To ensure the best response time, we kindly ask that parents contact teachers via email only during school hours.
Warm regards,
Daniela Day