Visible Wellbeing Update

Progress on Positive Education in the Junior School

The Junior School Wellbeing Design Team – Mrs Hazleton, Ms Hamblin, Mr Whitehead, Mr Barrett

The year so far in the Junior School has been a time of growth, connection, and character building. At Kinross Wolaroi, we are dedicated to Positive Education, recognising that by explicitly teaching character strengths, we help our students build self-awareness, resilience, and the ability to make meaningful contributions to their community. Each week, Junior School classes have embraced a different character strength with their teacher on Monday mornings, then deepened their understanding through shared classroom experiences and collaborative conversations.

The year began with the exploration of bravery, as students courageously embraced a new academic year, and for some, a new school! They showed responsibility for their sun safety by wearing their hats—a small but important step in fostering independence and care for themselves and others. Kindness became a daily focus through simple yet powerful actions like lining up and moving respectfully around the school. This helped students understand that by showing kindness, we not only strengthen our relationships but also create a more caring environment for all.

The exploration of self-regulation helped students develop patience, responsibility during eating times, and mindfulness as they learned the school prayer. These moments of reflection encouraged personal growth and focus. Reverence was also a key character strength as students practiced respectful behaviour when entering important spaces, reinforcing the values of self-discipline and respect for others.

The value of respect blossomed throughout friendships and interactions with teachers, fostering meaningful conversations about empathy and communication. The URSTRONG workshop held in Week 2 of Term 2, provided students with further opportunities to apply their character strengths in real-world contexts and in turn build strong, positive relationships. 

Harmony Day was a beautiful opportunity to celebrate inclusivity and diversity, and we thank our SRC for their leadership in guiding this important event. Reconciliation Week further highlighted the importance of understanding and respecting our shared history, promoting unity and mutual respect.

As a teaching team, we couldn’t be prouder of our students’ progress and the way they are creating a vibrant, supportive, and connected school community where everyone is valued for their unique qualities. We’re excited for continued learning, where we’ll revisit some character strengths and explore new ones. Be sure to check the JS Weekly Communications for a copy of the slides that classroom teachers will be using to guide our weekly wellbeing discussions.

Emotional Management: A Foundation for Thriving Students 

At Kinross Wolaroi School, our partnership with the Visible Wellbeing program is enhancing the way we support the mental health and wellbeing of both students and staff. Developed by Professor Lea Waters, this evidence-based framework helps schools embed wellbeing practices into everyday teaching and learning. Through the SEARCH framework—Strengths, Emotional Management, Attention and Awareness, Relationships, Coping, and Habits and Goals—we are equipping our community with lifelong tools for resilience and growth.

A key pillar of this framework is Emotional Management—the ability to recognise, understand, and regulate our emotions in healthy and constructive ways. For students, this means learning how to stay calm under pressure, express feelings appropriately, and recover from setbacks with confidence.

Why is this so important? Emotional management directly influences learning, relationships, and overall wellbeing. Students who can manage their emotions are more likely to stay focused in class, resolve conflicts respectfully, and approach challenges with a growth mindset. It also helps reduce anxiety and behavioural issues, creating a more positive and productive classroom environment.

Through Visible Wellbeing, our students are learning practical strategies such as naming their emotions, using breathing techniques to calm their nervous system, and reflecting on emotional triggers. Teachers are embedding these practices into lessons, helping students build emotional literacy alongside academic skills.

By prioritising emotional management, we are not only supporting academic success—we are nurturing confident, compassionate, and self-aware young people. This is the heart of our wellbeing vision at Kinross Wolaroi: to help every student thrive, both in school and in life.