Primary News
Mel Sluyters
"Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge." – Simon Sinek
Year 6 Restorative Practice Leaders Take the Lead!
Last week marked an exciting milestone for our Primary community as our Year 6 Restorative Practice Leaders completed their training and began their official duties in the playground. Wearing their distinctive yellow hats these student leaders are now a visible presence during break times, helping our younger pupils resolve conflicts and build positive relationships.
Restorative Practice is an approach that focuses on building and maintaining positive relationships within our school community. Unlike traditional disciplinary methods that ask "What rule was broken?" and "What punishment is deserved?", restorative approaches ask:
- "What happened?"
- "Who has been affected and how?"
- "What needs to happen to make things right?"
This approach gives everyone involved in a conflict the chance to share their perspective, express their feelings, and participate in developing a solution. It emphasises accountability, healing, and learning rather than punishment.
Our Year 6 leaders have been trained to facilitate "restorative conversations" when minor conflicts arise in the playground. They help younger students:
- Talk through what happened
- Understand how their actions affected others
- Find ways to repair any harm caused
- Agree on how to move forward positively
As a Primary that has used Restorative Practice as a way of supporting behaviours it is great to see children take ownership of resolving their conflicts, as well as start to develop crucial life skills and feel more connected as a Primary.
Research shows that schools implementing restorative practices see reductions in behavior incidents and improvements in school climate. By empowering our Year 6 students as leaders, we're not only helping them develop important skills but also creating a more supportive environment for all pupils.
This year’s Year 6 Restorative Practice Leaders are a wonderful example of commitment, enthusiasm and kindness. Congratulations to all of you, we're incredibly proud of your commitment to making our school a kinder, more connected community!
Our Foundation For Growth
Across the whole College from ELC - Year 10 we are guided and guided by our Positive Behaviour Support Framework with a matrix developed for our Early Years, Primary and Secondary all to serve as the cornerstone of our educational environment, providing students with clear expectations and a framework for positive behavior. By embedding our key values of respect, resilience, compassion, and contribution into daily school life, we create a community where children thrive both academically and socially. Respect teaches our students to value themselves and others, resilience equips them with the strength to overcome challenges, compassion develops their empathy and understanding, and contribution encourages active participation in their community. Our PBS matrix transforms abstract values into concrete actions, helping our youngest learners understand how to embody these ideals in the classroom, playground, and beyond.
As an acknowledgement of students displaying one or more of our PBS values of Respect, Resilient, Compassion and Contribution each Friday at line up we recognise students who have been nominated by staff. Congratulations to the following who were presented with a certificate last week.
April Long | Respect Compassion | I would like to acknowledge April Long for always starting her day with a warm ‘good morning’ to any adults in the room, creating a positive atmosphere for everyone. She consistently demonstrates a selfless attitude, always putting the needs of others before her own. Her kindness and thoughtfulness do not go unnoticed, and she truly makes a difference in the lives of those around her. | Mrs Fazackerley |
Vivienne Pedersen | Compassion | We would like to acknowledge Vivienne Pedersen for the caring way she welcomed a fellow new student, who was nervous, in her first days at Mount Carmel.
| Mrs Wall, Mrs Himson and Mrs Fasnacht
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Eva Madden | Resilience Contribution | I would like to acknowledge Eva Madden for trying her hardest every day. She consistently remains on task and produces work of a very high standard. Her pursuit of excellence is inspirational and she positively influences the other students in the class. | Miss Thatcher |
Eden Kingston | Contribution | For embracing her leadership role and supporting younger students catching the bus for the first time. | Mr Pikunic |
Grace Whitney | Compassion | For being a kind and thoughtful classmate, always looking out for others and helping those around her. | Mrs Murphy |
NAPLAN
Thank you to our dedicated staff and remarkable students for your exceptional efforts with NAPLAN this week. Your hard work, focus, and perseverance throughout the assessment period reflects the strong learning culture we have here at the College.
Learning Conversations
All Primary parents/guardians were sent a reminder about our upcoming Learning Conversations on Thursday 27 March and Tuesday 1 April that will be held in the College Hall. Further information in regard to booking times will be sent through this week. These conversations are an important part of the connection between school and home and it is essential that all families take up this opportunity. A reminder that Year 5 and 6 students attend alongside their parents/carers.
School TV - A Great Resource
A number of years ago I attended a Professional Learning in Melbourne and at that we a College were asked to be a trial school for SchoolTV. Now nearly a decade later we still have this amazing resource for our community.
SchoolTV offers a vital resource navigating the complex challenges of raising children in a rapidly changing world. By providing expert-led guidance on issues ranging from mental health and digital safety to academic pressures and social development, SchoolTV empowers parents with evidence-based strategies and practical advice tailored to their children's specific needs. This curated platform bridges the knowledge gap between educational professionals and home environments, allowing parents to access timely, relevant information that helps them proactively address concerns before they escalate. In an era where parenting resources can be overwhelming and contradictory, SchoolTV stands out as a trusted ally that strengthens the parent-school partnership, ultimately creating a more cohesive support system for children's wellbeing and development across all aspects of their lives.
Locating SchoolTV is as easy as heading to the College’s website and clicking on the Community tab and then scrolling down until you find SchoolTV.
Primary Swimming Team
Congratulations to the Primary Swimming team who will soon compete in the upcoming JSSATIS and STCPSSA Carnivals. Best of luck to all our swimmers - remember to enjoy the experience and represent the school values with pride. The entire school community will be cheering you on, and we look forward to celebrating your achievements regardless of the results.