Student Wellbeing & Mental Health
Lunchtime Clubs: Building Connection Beyond the Classroom
One of the key priorities in our new School Strategic Plan is ensuring every student feels connected, engaged and experiences a strong sense of belonging at school. While this happens in classrooms every day, it also happens in the playground.
Our lunchtime clubs have become a much-loved part of life at Lysterfield Primary School. Each week, students choose from a range of activities that provide opportunities to connect with others, explore their interests and enjoy a different kind of lunchtime experience.
Whether students are looking for a quieter space, hoping to meet new friends or simply keen to try something different, there's something for everyone.
Why We Run Lunchtime Clubs
Lunchtime clubs provide students with another way to connect with school beyond the classroom. They offer opportunities to:
- build friendships and strengthen social confidence
- explore interests and develop new skills
- enjoy calm, structured activities
- practise teamwork, problem-solving and collaboration
- experience success in different ways.
Whether students attend every week or simply drop in occasionally, clubs help ensure every child has opportunities to feel connected, included and successful during their lunchtime.
How It Works
Clubs run on set days each week and are supervised by staff. Students are welcome to attend whenever they choose - there's no expectation to come every week. Some clubs have limited places due to space or resources, but wherever possible we aim to accommodate everyone. If a club is full, students are encouraged to try another activity that day and come back the following week.
Weekly Club Timetable
This semester students can choose from a variety of lunchtime opportunities, including:
- Board Game Club – Friendly board and card games that build strategy, turn-taking and teamwork.
- Visual Arts Club – Guided creative activities where students can explore different artistic techniques and express their creativity.
- LEGO Club – Open-ended building challenges that encourage imagination, collaboration and problem-solving.
- Rubik's Cube Club – Learn new solving techniques, challenge yourself and celebrate progress.
- Chess Club – A welcoming space for students of all experience levels to develop their thinking and strategic skills.
- Choir Club – An opportunity for students in Years 3–6 to sing together, build confidence and prepare for performances.
(See the timetable below for the days, times and locations of each club.)
A Conversation Starter at Home
Many children enjoy thinking ahead about their week. Taking a few moments to chat about lunchtime clubs can help your child make plans, try something new or invite a friend to join them.
Some conversation starters might include:
- Which lunchtime club would you like to try this week?
- Is there a club you've really enjoyed before?
- Who could you invite to come along with you?
- What are you looking forward to at lunchtime this week?
Sometimes it's these simple conversations that help children build confidence, strengthen friendships and feel even more connected to school.
We're proud to offer lunchtime clubs as one of the many ways we support student wellbeing, belonging and positive relationships at Lysterfield Primary School.
Kayla Pepper | Learning Specialist - Wellbeing
Upcoming Workshops / Other Information
Lysterfield Primary School is pleased to invite all parents and carers to attend our upcoming parent seminar, Supporting Anxious Little Minds, presented by Georgina Manning from Wellbeing for Kids.
With anxiety increasingly affecting young people, this practical seminar will provide parents with simple, evidence-based strategies to support their child's emotional wellbeing. The session will explore how to recognise the early signs of anxiety, build resilience, and support children to develop self-regulation skills and confidently manage life's everyday challenges. This seminar also aligns with our Peaceful Kids Program, with all Lysterfield families warmly invited to attend.
Date - Wednesday 12th August
Time - 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location - Lysterfield Primary School Library
There is no cost to attend. If you are planning to come along, we would appreciate you completing this quick Google Form so that we have an indication of numbers for the evening.
Please find the seminar flyer attached for further information.
We hope to see you there!
Anglicare Parentzone Newsletter - Parenting in the East What's On Term 3 2026
News and information on programs, services, groups and events to support parents across the Eastern Region of Melbourne. Some of the upcoming (and free!) programs for Term 3 include Tuning in to Kids, Talking Teens, Dads Matter, Emotion Focussed Parenting & the Strengthening Parents Support Program (for parents & carers of children with a disability, developmental delay or neurodivergence - including ASD, ADHD & AuDHD) -
Online Safety - ESafety Commissioner - Free Webinars for Parents and Carers
These live webinars give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safer online experiences.
Michelle Mitchell's 'Friendship Smart Hub'
From Michelle (about Friendship Smart Hub) - Consider this a place for the additional thoughts, deeper insights, and pieces that didn’t make it into my new book Friendship Smart, but still matter deeply to me. Some of them will be background thoughts and others will be practical tools you can use with your kids.
Here you’ll find a short series of podcast episodes, supplementary resources, blogs and upcoming resources to support you in the everyday moments at home.
You know how much I love your tweens and teens, so here you will be able to sign up to make you don’t miss out on what I have in store for them. When you have shared language this content will be even more powerful. Friendship Smart is coming to them too!
Podcasts of Interest
Pop Culture Parenting - Pop Culture Parenting — Guiding Growing Minds
Well, hello Anxiety - Podcast - Dr. Jodi Richardson
Parental as Anything - Parental As Anything with Maggie Dent and Bec Sparrow - ABC listen
The Imperfects - The Imperfects Podcast
ParentZone Pods
Podcasts for parents, carers and those who support others with their parenting. The ParentZone Teams are delighted to bring you TWELVE ParentZone Pods. Each Pod identifies and explores common issues parents bring to our parenting groups and offers strategies to try in these situations.
Podcast Series 1
Episode 1: Family Meetings
Episode 2: Dealing with Anxiety
Episode 3: Sibling Rivalry
Episode 4: Getting Children to Listen
Episode 5: How to Respond to Kids' Behaviour
Episode 6: How to Stop Yelling at your Kids
Podcast Series 2
Episode 1: Positive Discipline
Episode 2: School Refusal
Episode 3: Parenting our Teenagers
Episode 4: Meltdowns vs Tantrums
Episode 5: Couples Parenting Together
Episode 6: Dads Parenting Today
ParentZone Pods can be found on our website, Apple and via Spotify