Wellbeing
Amanda Wilson | Assistant Principal
The important role of Nova in our school community
At Hampton Primary School, Nova is much more than a friendly face. Our eight-year-old Japanese Spitz has a gentle nature, a fluffy white coat and a remarkable ability to make people smile. As a valued member of our wellbeing team, Nova helps create a calm, welcoming environment where children feel safe, connected and ready to learn.
For many students, spending just a few minutes with Nova can reduce feelings of anxiety and provide comfort during challenging moments. Nova spends time in the playground during recess and lunch, happily greeting students and joining in conversations. She visits classrooms, supports reluctant students to enter school, and helps students develop emotional regulation and positive behaviours through her calm, reassuring presence. She is loved by students, teachers and our parent community alike, and has become a wonderful talking point and source of connection for many of our international students.
We are also delighted to share that Nova has recently renewed her therapy dog accreditation, passing her assessment with flying colours. The accreditation process ensures therapy dogs continue to demonstrate the calm temperament, obedience and confidence needed to work safely and effectively in a school environment. Nova's outstanding result reflects her gentle nature, impeccable manners and her ongoing commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our school community.
Emerging research supports the benefits of therapy dogs in educational settings. Studies have found that school-based therapy dog programs can improve students' social and emotional wellbeing, including increased empathy, stronger social connections, reduced stress and improved emotional regulation. Therapy dogs have also been shown to enhance students' confidence and engagement in learning when they are thoughtfully integrated into a school's wellbeing approach.
Nova has become a much-loved ambassador for Hampton Primary School. She regularly joins school tours, delighting prospective families, and on more than one occasion parents have shared that meeting Nova was one of the reasons they chose Hampton Primary School for their child. Nova reminds us that sometimes the smallest gestures—a wagging tail, a gentle pat or a quiet companion—can make the biggest difference. By fostering connection, reducing anxiety and helping students feel a sense of belonging, Nova plays a special role in supporting the wellbeing of our entire school community.
Building Positive Gender Relations at Hampton Primary
We are committed to creating a safe, respectful and inclusive environment where every student feels valued, accepted and empowered to be themselves. As part of our ongoing delivery of the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) initiative, students across the school will soon participate in learning from Topic 8: Positive Gender Relations.
This important topic will support students to develop an understanding of fairness, respect and equality in relationships. Through age-appropriate lessons and discussions, students will explore the importance of challenging stereotypes, recognising individual strengths and celebrating that everyone has the right to participate, contribute and succeed regardless of their gender.
Students will explore ideas such as:
- how gender stereotypes can influence the way people think, act or are treated;
- the importance of respecting different interests, abilities and choices;
- how to recognise and challenge unfair assumptions about what people “should” or “shouldn’t” do;
- the importance of kindness, inclusion and standing up for others.
In the younger year levels, students will focus on recognising that all children can enjoy different activities, express their feelings and develop their own interests. Older students will engage in deeper conversations about equality, respectful communication, inclusion and how their words and actions can contribute to a positive school culture.
This learning will connect strongly with our Hampton Primary School values of collaboration, aspiration, integrity and resilience. By supporting students to understand and respect each other’s differences, we will continue to build a community where everyone feels a strong sense of belonging and has the opportunity to thrive.
Families can support this learning by encouraging conversations at home about fairness, respect and the importance of valuing everyone’s unique qualities. Discussions about celebrating individual interests, sharing responsibilities and challenging stereotypes when they arise can help reinforce the messages students will be exploring at school.
Together, we will continue to nurture a school environment where all students feel respected, included and confident to be themselves.
Supporting conversations at home
Families play an important role in helping children develop respectful attitudes and positive relationships. Parents and carers can support this learning by:
- encouraging children to talk about their interests, strengths and aspirations without limiting these based on gender;
- noticing and gently challenging stereotypes when they arise in everyday conversations, books, television shows or media;
- encouraging children to show kindness, empathy and respect towards others;
- discussing the importance of everyone having the opportunity to participate, contribute and make choices that reflect who they are.
Resources
If you have any questions related to the delivery of the RRRR initiative please contact your classroom teacher or Amanda Wilson (AP Wellbeing)