Wellbeing Matters

Year 8 Focus Day

Our Year 8 students recently took part in a special Focus Day on Tuesday 5 May, centred on supporting their wellbeing, confidence, and personal growth. The day provided a valuable opportunity for students to step away from their usual routines and engage in meaningful learning experiences focused on their development as individuals and as members of our school community.

A highlight of the day was our partnership with Tomorrow Woman, an organisation known for delivering engaging, evidence-based workshops for young people. Through interactive sessions led by Claire Ash, one of their experienced facilitators, students explored the important topic of friendship and resilience.. These sessions created a safe and supportive environment where students were encouraged to reflect, share, and develop practical strategies to help navigate the challenges of adolescence.

The day also incorporated elements of the CaRE (SaSS) program, with a focus on building social awareness and strengthening positive relationships. Students participated in activities designed to enhance their communication skills, promote respect, and support responsible decision-making. Mount Carmel staff also led a dedicated session, reinforcing key messages from both the Tomorrow Woman workshop and the CaRE (SaSS) program, and helping students connect these learnings to their everyday experiences at school.

By bringing together external expertise and our existing wellbeing programs, the Focus Day provided a consistent and supportive approach to student wellbeing. It was a meaningful experience for our Year 8 cohort, and we are proud of their engagement throughout the day. We have gathered student feedback and will continue to use their perspectives to strengthen wellbeing across the school. A selection of student comments is included below for families to view, offering insight into their experiences and reflections. We look forward to seeing these important skills continue to grow within our school community over the course of the year. 

Student Feedback from the Day 

What is one specific thing that worked well for the focus day?

• Communicating with one and another, made it effective for me because I got to know different people more. 

• I liked that we were in house groups and got to work with girls we don't normally work with because were in different classes. 

• They made us realise that we aren't alone. 

• Moral Compass. It was intresting and fun to work with others 

• I think the CaRE program was very effective and enjoyable. It was effective because it was clear information but it was also interactive. 

• When we talked about labels in Tomorrow Woman. 

• We learnt a lot of stuff we haven't done before.

My Mind Check

My Mind Check is a wellbeing check-in tool designed to help students reflect on how they are feeling while giving staff a clearer understanding of student wellbeing across the school. It provides a simple and supportive way for students to share how they are going, helping us identify both strengths and areas where additional support may be needed. The process is low-pressure, age-appropriate, and focused on ensuring every student feels heard and supported.

We will begin My Mind Check sessions for students in Years 1–10 in Week 6 (beginning 8 June) of Term 2. The information gathered will help staff respond early to student needs and guide our wellbeing planning throughout the term and across the year. This supports our ongoing commitment to targeted support and a strong whole-school approach to wellbeing.

If you have not yet completed the My Mind Check permission form and would like your child to participate this year, it is still not too late to be involved. We strongly encourage families to respond to the latest EdSmart sent out as soon as possible so all students have the opportunity to benefit from this valuable program. Supporting mental wellbeing is a shared responsibility, and initiatives like this play an important role in identifying early signs of stress or anxiety and ensuring students feel supported.

My Mind Check is not a clinical mental health assessment, but rather a tool that provides helpful insights into student wellbeing, both individually and across our school community. Where any areas of concern are identified, the Wellbeing Team will follow up and provide appropriate support.

For families interested in learning more or revisiting the information, resources are always available at mymindcheck.org.au or click on the YouTube video below.

Wellbeing Committee

We are excited to invite students in Year 5 to Year 10 to be part of our new Student Wellbeing Committee, an initiative designed to strengthen student voice and ensure student perspectives are included in decisions that support wellbeing across the school. The committee will provide students with an opportunity to share ideas, raise concerns, and contribute to creating a positive and supportive school environment for everyone.

The Student Wellbeing Committee will meet once each term and work alongside the Student and Staff Leadership Teams to discuss wellbeing initiatives, student engagement, connection, and support across the school community. Through these discussions, students will play an important role in helping shape programs and strategies that reflect the needs and experiences of their peers.

This is a valuable opportunity for students to represent their year group, contribute to positive change, and help build a school culture where all students feel heard, supported, and able to thrive. We encourage interested students to consider getting involved and look forward to seeing students take an active role in strengthening wellbeing across our school community.