The Spear Newsletter

Child Safe &

Wellbeing

Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,

 

Respectful Relationships

At St Thomas the Apostle Primary school, staff uphold the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of Catholic education.

 

Our commitment statement to child safety affirms our commitment to:

  • zero tolerance to child abuse
  • listen to and empower children and young people
  • keep children and young people safe.

Protection of children and young people is based upon the belief that each person is made in the image and likeness of God, and that the inherent dignity of all should be recognised and fostered. St Thomas the Apostle Primary school is committed to child protection strategies and procedures to ensure the care, safety and protection of all children and young people in our school and safeguarding children and young people against sexual, physical, psychological and emotional abuse and/or neglect. Issues of consent, sexual assault, and gender inequality are critically important. Our school, in partnership with parents, guardians, carers and Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL) has an important role to play in addressing this significant social issue.

 

Fostering and maintaining respectful relationships with others is a necessary element of a proper functioning society. Developing young men and women who respect each other’s fundamental rights is central to our aim as a school community and the safety and wellbeing of students. St Thomas the Apostle Primary school utilises a range of programs to help form appropriate interpersonal behaviours and respectful attitudes among the student cohort, consistent with approaches approved by the Bishop of Sale. This includes the Respectful Relationships initiative, which is part of the Victorian Curriculum.

This initiative supports our school to promote and model respect, positive attitudes and behaviours and teaches students how to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence. The whole school approach to Respectful Relationships helps to embed a culture of respect and gender equality across the entire school community.

 

The resources include age-appropriate lesson plans and activities that help students learn and practise social skills and apply them in a positive way to learning, life and relationships. The resources also include topics on sexual harassment and consent. 

St Thomas the Apostle Primary school and DOSCEL takes sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations very seriously, including allegations made by former students. We respond to any disclosures in an appropriate and supportive manner. Any allegations are acted upon quickly by following procedures for responding to allegations of abuse and assault with the support of DOSCEL Secretariat and relevant authorities. 

 

St Thomas the Apostle Primary school and DOSCEL Secretariat will provide support to any current or former students who are victim-survivors of sexual assault. Students attending St Thomas the Apostle Primary school can receive support from Jen Gulavin, the Deputy Principal (Inclusive Education), Emily Maher or Farha Siddiqui, our school counsellors. 

 

If you have any questions or concerns, or wish to discuss something that has happened, please contact Jen Gulavin, Emily Maher or Farha Siddiqui.

 

As a parent, guardian or carer, if you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault and needs support, please contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au.

You can also access help through

Students can access help through

All of us must work together to do all we can to address this issue and prevent future harm to any child or young person. Critically, we must empower the children and young people in our care to participate in what must become an ongoing conversation on the efficacy of existing school Respectful Relationships’ programs, and the priority they are given in schools, and amongst school communities.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Kate Dourley

Principal 

 

 

MHiPS (Mental Health in Primary Schools)

 

Dear Families,

 

This year St Thomas the Apostle has begun the process of embedding the Mental Health in Primary School’s (MHiPS) Program. I am most fortunate to be the MHiPS leader at this school. I would like to acknowledge the great deal of work which has been initiated in this area and I take delight in building on the efforts of teachers, counsellors, wellbeing teams, and leaders who have been doing fantastic work in this space already.

 

My role is to work with staff to ensure positive mental health strategies are being implemented across the school and within classrooms at a universal level. I'll help build the capacity of teachers working with students who are presenting with mental health concerns. I will also work with the wellbeing team to ensure we have clear pathways for families and teachers seeking allied health support for students. Whilst engaging in the MHiPS leadership role, I also have the pleasure of teaching Media Arts to our grade 5 & 6 students and teaching one day a week in 6A. 

 

I would also like to reintroduce Kylie, our therapy dog. Kylie and myself are a therapy dog handler team. We love connecting with students and using Kylie’s dazzling personality and relatable strengths (and challenges!) to build students’ personal and social skills. 

 

 

I look forward to meeting more of our parent community through this capacity.

 

Emily Robertson

MHiPS Leader

 

 

 

Can you believe it is Term 3 already!  

 

We hope you all had a wonderful break and rest!

This month's newsletter is focused on signs that you see around the school precinct.  These signs are all here to keep pedestrians and drivers safe.  Many times, in our observations, dangers happen because the signs are not being followed by pedestrians or drivers.   

We all need to play our part.

 

The School Zone sign below tells drivers to slow down and be aware at the peak times there are lots of children and families around.  Many drivers forget school is back and the 40km sign applies. Fines do apply and Victoria Police Highway Patrol monitor these areas closely.