Health & Wellbeing @ NLPS
Coffee, Community, and Connection
What a beautiful way to begin the year. Our first Coffee Morning of the year was a wonderful success, with the staffroom buzzing with conversation, warmth, and friendship. A heartfelt thank you to Sheri Seyit and Anna Terzi, our incredible community volunteers, for helping to make the morning so special (and for the great coffee!). A big thank you as well to the parents and carers who gave up their morning to come along. It was so lovely to see everyone together, chatting and enjoying each other’s company.
It was particularly special to welcome our new Foundation families alongside our existing families, creating an opportunity to come together and, hopefully, feel warmly welcomed into our beautiful school. These Coffee Mornings will be held each term, and we would love to see you at the next one. Mornings like this are a lovely reminder of the supportive community that makes our school such a special place.
Wellbeing at Newport Lakes Primary School
At Newport Lakes Primary School, we believe in educating the whole child. Learning and wellbeing are deeply interconnected, and we know that when students feel safe, supported, and valued, they are better able to learn and thrive. This aligns with the Department of Education’s FISO 2.0 model, which recognises wellbeing as an essential pillar of student success, and reflects our school vision to develop students who are resilient, responsible, respectful, and compassionate within a safe and nurturing environment.
Our Whole-School Approach to Wellbeing
We prioritise wellbeing through a range of proactive, whole-school practices, including:
Respectful Relationships (RR)
At Newport Lakes Primary School, we deliver the Resilience, Rights, and Respectful Relationships curriculum across the school. This program supports students to develop healthy relationships, resilience, confidence, and respect through explicit teaching, shared language, and positive role modelling, embedded in everyday practice.
Respectful Relationships Captains
Our Respectful Relationships Captains proudly award 'Gotcha' cards to students who exemplify our school values. Each card recognises positive behaviour and contributions, and students who receive cards are entered into a termly draw. Winners are invited to a special morning tea to celebrate their efforts and commitment to our school community.
Restorative Practices
We use a restorative approach to behaviour, supporting students to take responsibility for their actions, repair harm, and rebuild relationships in respectful and meaningful ways.
Positive Classroom Management Strategies (PCMS)
We implement the Department of Education’s Positive Classroom Management Strategies (PCMS) framework to support calm, safe, and inclusive learning environments. PCMS helps staff proactively teach expectations, build strong relationships, respond consistently to behaviour, and support students to regulate their emotions. This shared approach across the school creates predictable classrooms where students feel secure, supported, and ready to learn.
School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS)
SWPBS brings our school community together to create a positive, safe, and predictable learning environment. This approach supports:
- increased respectful and positive behaviour
- improved social and emotional wellbeing
- stronger relationships among students and staff
- increased time focused on learning
- improved attendance and a greater sense of safety
Our School Values
Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, Compassion, and Critical Thinking are our five core values, guiding and underpinning all aspects of school life. Students are recognised with fortnightly Value Awards at assemblies, reinforcing positive behaviour and character development.
Health and Wellbeing Learning
Wellbeing is embedded across our curriculum. Our Health program includes learning from:
- Respectful Relationships
- Child Safe standards
- Cyber safety education
- Bounce Back! — a resource that teaches resilience and coping strategies to help students manage everyday challenges
Student Voice and Agency
We strongly value student voice and believe all students have the capacity to learn, lead, and contribute. Students are encouraged to share their perspectives and take an active role in shaping their learning and school experience.
Junior School Council (JSC)
JSC provides students with authentic leadership opportunities, ensuring a range of student voices are informing school decision-making.
Additional Wellbeing Supports
- Chill Room: A quiet, supervised space available at lunchtime for students who may find the yard overwhelming.
- Lunchtime Support (Mon–Wed): Students can visit the office of our Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader, Sam Meddis, for a chat or support.
- Lunchtime Clubs: These support engagement, inclusion, and social connection, particularly for students who find unstructured time challenging.
Our Student Welfare Team
Our dedicated Welfare Team works closely with staff, students, and families to support learning and wellbeing:
- Mat Williamson, Welfare Coordinator (Assistant Principal)
- Carol Martins, Inclusion Leading Teacher
- Amy O’Dowd, Learning Specialist
- Sam Meddis, Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader
The team supports whole-school wellbeing approaches (Tier 1) and offers targeted supports, including small group or individual interventions (Tier 2 and 3), aligned with our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).
Supporting Your Child
Your first point of contact is always your child’s classroom teacher. Teachers can be contacted via Compass or by emailing the school, and will respond within 48 hours.
If further support is required, teachers can refer the student to the Welfare Team, who will triage and prioritise support within the broader school context.
Please note: all students can access lunchtime wellbeing support Monday to Wednesday by visiting Sam’s office.
By working together, we can continue to build strong relationships, foster connection, and support the wellbeing of every child, ensuring all students feel safe, valued, and ready to learn.
Sam Meddis
Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader