Lysterfield Primary Student Wellbeing and Mental Health Team

Celebrating our Circles Program in 2025

This year we have been incredibly proud of the growth and success of our Circles program at Lysterfield Primary School. Circles brings students together in multi-age groups, giving them the chance to build connections, practise our school values and learn alongside peers from Prep to Grade 6.

A key component of Circles is that every session is anchored in one of our school values – Teamwork, Respect, Aspire, Community or Kindness. It’s a funand authentic way to promote our values and to explicitly teach what they look, sound and feel like in everyday school life.

The program is designed to:

Strengthen belonging and connectedness across the school
Support friendships beyond year levels and classroom groups
Give students shared language and strategies to navigate feelings, friendships and problem-solving
Provide authentic leadership opportunities for our Grade 6 students.

Across the year, Circles sessions have explored our school values, positive friendships, help-seeking, inclusion and kindness. This year, we also included a special R U OK? Day Circles session, where students practised how to check in with others, notice when someone might be struggling and use safe, supportive language.

A real highlight of the program has been the leadership shown by our Grade 6 Circles Leaders. Each leader has worked closely with a teacher mentor; co-running sessions, leading games and discussions, and helping younger students feel safe, included and heard. It has been wonderful to watch their confidence grow and to see the genuine care they show for their groups.

Our final Circles session for 2025 was a celebration of this work, filled with fun activities, reflections and lots of smiles. We’ve included a selection of photos below to showcase the connections, teamwork and joy that have come from Circles this year.

A huge congratulations and thank you to all of our Circles Leaders for their outstanding contribution in 2025. Your leadership has made a real difference to the sense of community at LPS, and we are very proud of you.

Circles Leaders 2025

Mckennah, James, Chloe, Jack - Mrs Sandeman's Sour Squirms

Azalea, Callum, Ruby-May - Miss Sweetten's Sausage Sizzle

Paige, Chase, Zach - Miss Bouloukis' Boring Bananas

Jess, Kaylee, Nate, Aarav - Miss Anson's Amazing Aussies

Alex, Levon, Mitchell - Miss A's Awesome Ants

Abbey, Amy, Kobe, Parham - Ms Holmes' Huge Helicopters

Emma L, Poppy, Jude, Blake - Mrs Reynold's Rapping Roasters

Evie, Jasmine, Tom - Miss Darvidis' Develish Ducks

Lacey, George Z, Indi - Miss Harvey's Happy Hippos

Allegra, Monique, Jobe - Mrs Bailey's Bursting Balloons

Khalessi, Fin, Mya - Mrs Huxley's Happy Horses

Jemma, Dan, Charlie - Miss du Vallon's Diamond Donkeys

Alanna, Quinn, George C, Archie, Austin - Mrs Stokol's Super Squishmellows

Mila, Georgie, Rooke - Mrs Ward's Walking Whales

Kaeley, Dilara - Mrs Waldron's Watery Waterfalls

Asher, Braxton, Chloe - Miss Emonson's Exhilirating Eagles

Audrey, Roman, Ryder, Emma, Adele - Mrs Halstead's Hungry Hotdogs

Mavis, Lee, Abigail - Mrs A's Amazing Axolotls

Lulu, Nathan, Charlotte - Mr Mac's Md Monkeys

Celina, Wade, Olivia, Bear - Mrs Fisher's Fish & Chips

Lucy G, Gabby, Kobe - Miss Ibbo's Incredible Icy-poles

Macey, Aiden, Zara - Mr Hick's Happy Hippies

Lucy H, Tyler, Georgia, Leo - Mrs Harvey & Mr Butler's Hungry Bananas

Milla, Jayden, Annabelle, Mattie - The Principal's Perfect Pegasuses

Kayla Pepper | Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader

Upcoming Workshops / Other Information

Michelle Mitchell - A Neurodivergent Guide to Starting High School

Date and Time: Tuesday 20th January 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Cost: $35.00

Access: It is yours to watch and view as many times as you want for 6 months from the date of purchase

Michelle Mitchell - Preparing for High School Webinar

Eastern Parentzone - Term 4 Newsletter

Podcasts of Interest

Kim Bedford | School Counsellor / Social Worker

Parents Association