Wellbeing 

Hi everyone,

This week I thought I would let our families know about two big changes we have made at school this year, to support student wellbeing during break times.

Wellbeing Walks

Playtime is such great fun and our yard is an exciting place to be. We have two official playtimes at school — First Break and Second Break — both running for 30 minutes. However, for some of our students, 30 minutes outside with 221 other children can feel quite overwhelming. Managing social connections can be exhausting, and we are always looking for ways to support this.

This year we have dedicated staff members outside during breaks as part of our Wellbeing Walks. These staff are different from the Yard Duty teachers. Their role is to support social connections and emotional wellbeing. This might look like checking in on new students, supporting those navigating friendship changes, or even organising a game for students wanting help to join in. It’s a bit like having a “grown-up friend” out in the yard.

I love heading out on Wellbeing Walks, even when I’m not on the timetable! It’s a lovely chance to get to know our students more, support those who may be feeling a little wobbly, and sometimes even peek in on the fairy gardens that pop up around the school.

Reflection Room

Conflict in the yard is something all schools work through to ensure playtimes remain safe and happy for everyone. Yard Duty teachers oversee student behaviour, sometimes reminding students of expectations or walking alongside them to talk through better choices.

To further support this, we have introduced a Reflection Room this year. Students displaying unsafe or disrespectful behaviour may be supported in this quiet, supervised space during break times.

Here, senior staff guide students through restorative conversations. Students who are able to write may complete a reflection sheet, prompting them to think about:

• Why they are there
• How they were feeling at the time
• Who was impacted
• What they could do differently next time

The focus of this space is teaching and growth — helping students build the skills they need to make positive choices in the future.

I also supervise this space at times during the week, and the staff and I work hard to create an environment that allows a child to truly reflect and reset. And on the days when the Reflection Room has no visitors… I get to enjoy a moment of peace and quiet and take a breath!

I hope this has helped families better understand our yard processes and reassures you that, as a staff, we are always reflecting and refining how we support student wellbeing.

Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Mrs Róisín Mauriks

Acting Assistant Principal

roisin.mauriks@education.vic.gov.au

Ph: 5368 1072