Wellbeing News
In the month of March we are focusing on Child Safety Standard Three
"Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.’’
As Catholic educators, we have a moral, mission-driven and legal responsibility to uphold and actively promote the wellbeing and safety of every student entrusted in our care. Our commitment to the protection of students is enabled in nurturing, respectful and safe communities where the uniqueness and sacred dignity of every young person are celebrated, and they can flourish in their learning and development.
To be aligned, schools much support the following:
Children are informed about all their rights, including safety, information and participation
The importance of friendship is recognized and support from peers is encouraged
Where relevant to setting or context, young people are offered access to sexual abuse prevention programs in an age-appropriate way
Staff are attuned to signs of harm and facilitate child friendly ways for children to express their views, participate in decision making and raise their concerns
Organisations have strategies to develop a culture that facilitates participation and are responsive to input from children and young people.
How Parents, Carers and Guardians can get involved!
Listen and talk often: Encourage your child to share their thoughts and feelings. Let them know it’s always ok to speak up.
Talk about rights and safety: Help your child understand that everyone deserves to feel safe and respected.
Be a role model: Show kindness, respect, and inclusion in everyday life, children learn from what they see.
Stay connected with the school: Take part in conversations or surveys about student wellbeing and safety.
Support student voice: Encourage your child to get involved in school activities where their ideas can make a difference.
Thank you to our families for supporting Harmony Day - there were pops of orange everywhere and lots of smiles! It is wonderful to belong to such a welcoming, inclusive community.
Restorative practices
AT SMDP during Term 1 we have been focusing on implementing Restorative Practices. Restorative practices is a way of working with conflict that puts the focus on repairing the harm that has been done. The aim is to restore relationships and move forward. It is an approach to conflict resolution that includes all of the parties involved. The person whose actions have hurt someone else is asked to take responsibility for their choices and think about how it has affected other people (and themselves). They are asked to do or say something to show that they are truly sorry and want to make things right again. Please see your child’s teacher or myself if you have any questions about this approach.
We wish all members of our school community a safe, relaxing holiday and we look forward to seeing everyone in Term 2.
Simone Whitehead
Wellbeing & Family Engagement Leader