Wellbeing

Making healthy food fun and enjoying it together helps children build positive, healthy eating habits for life.

Helping children develop a healthy relationship with food is about creating positive attitudes that can last a lifetime. Using neutral language such as “everyday foods” and “sometimes foods” can help children understand that all foods can have a place in a balanced diet, without labelling foods as “good” or “bad”. Encourage children to listen to their hunger and fullness cues, enjoy a variety of foods and avoid talking about food in terms of guilt, dieting or body size. Most importantly, children learn from the adults around them, so modelling a relaxed and positive approach to food can make a lasting difference.

Through initiatives such as our Breakie Club and body image units in Respectful Relationships, St Mary's helps students set up healthy eating habits for life. 

                                                                  Smart Phone readiness 

Receiving a first smartphone is a significant milestone in a child's life. While there is no universally "right" age, deciding when the time is right involves much more than simply considering their age or whether their friends already have one. A smartphone brings greater independence, along with increased responsibilities, making it important to consider whether a child has the maturity and judgement to use it safely and responsibly.

Most young people have already used tablets, computers, gaming consoles or shared family devices before having access to their own smartphone. This quiz is not designed to assess technical skills or how well your child uses technology. Instead, it explores the judgement, responsibility, self-regulation and social maturity needed to manage the greater independence that comes with having regular access to a personal smartphone.

The Smartphone Readiness Quiz has been designed to support conversations about this important milestone. Rather than providing a simple yes or no answer, it encourages families to reflect on key areas of readiness, recognise strengths and identify opportunities to further develop the skills needed before taking this next step.

SPECIAL REPORT: Smartphone Readiness Quiz | St Mary's School - Rushworth                                                       

Wellbeing – Supporting Our Young People to Flourish 

Supporting the wellbeing of our students is strengthened when school and families work together, and this was certainly evident through the recent Life Relationships Program involving our senior students and their families. 

The program provided a valuable opportunity for families to come together with their child to explore and discuss the physical, emotional and social changes that can occur as young people grow and mature. Creating opportunities for these conversations in a safe and supportive environment helps our students develop greater understanding, confidence and a positive sense of self. 

We were delighted to see such a fantastic parent presence at the program. Thank you to our families for your participation, encouragement and commitment to supporting the wellbeing of your young people. Your partnership with us makes an enormous difference. 

Continuing our focus on student wellbeing, students in Years 2–6 will participate in an ACER Wellbeing Survey next week. This provides another important opportunity for us to listen to student voice and gather students' perspectives about how they are feeling and experiencing school. 

We look forward to using this information to celebrate what is working well and to continue strengthening the supports, relationships and learning environments that enable every student to feel safe, connected, supported and ready to learn. 

Wellbeing as one 

Ange Fiske-Kealy