Wellbeing
St Cecilia's Primary School Glen Iris
We know that children thrive at school when they feel happy, confident and secure.
Student Wellbeing is at the forefront of all that we do at St. Cecilia’s Primary school. Wellbeing is integral to learning excellence and overall health and life success.
We work with our families and the community to strengthen the wellbeing and learning outcomes for all children within a safe, inclusive and respectful learning environment.
We focus on building strong relationships. This in turn enhances student wellbeing and increases feelings of connection and belonging. A sense of belonging improves happiness, focus and resilience. Our aim is to provide an environment and opportunities for all of the members of our school community to flourish.
To support and manage this, we have a Student Wellbeing Leader on staff.
All students benefit from:
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The explicit teaching and learning of social-emotional skills;
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Explicit teaching of being safe, responsible and respectful in the online world through our eSmart program;
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Understanding of gender equality through our Respectful Relationships program;
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Being safe through our Child Safety standards;
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Having a voice in all that is important to them through Student leadership
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Our commitment to the Resilience Project (as we are a Partnership School)
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Access to School Psychologists
Social Emotional Learning Skills
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is explicitly taught in our curriculum. Social and emotional learning is about learning how to manage feelings, manage friendships and solve problems. These are essential life skills that support wellbeing and positive mental health. Social and emotional skills promote children’s ability to cope with difficulties and help to prevent mental health problems. Children who have developed social and emotional skills find it easier to manage themselves, relate to others, resolve conflict, and feel positive about themselves and the world around them.
Children are given opportunities to develop skills which promote resilience, problem solving and the ability to make good choices. We encourage empathy towards the feelings of others and respect for the rights of all. In keeping with our Christian ethos and The National Framework for Values Education in Australian Schools. We teach St Cecilia’s values of Faith, Acceptance, Compassion and Excellence. We believe that directly teaching these values improves relationships, helps us to know ourselves and others, enables good decision-making, promotes ethical behaviour and increases understanding and acceptance of other people.
Meditation
Mindfulness and meditation teach the children to fall still and quiet which helps to focus the mind and develop an inner peace, strength and steadiness. It is then easier to turn to the task at hand with greater focus and clarity of mind. This process is often referred to as ‘being in the present’ and helps to optimise mental, physical, emotional and spiritual pursuits. The children can continue to use these lifelong skills beyond primary school.
For example, from their first day at St. Cecilia’s, children learn to ‘pause’ and be still and quiet for a few moments before and after each activity. The pause involves the children being asked to ‘come to rest’ in an upright position with good posture. Once there is silence, the children may then recite together a brief dedication, this might be a prayer offering.
Across the curriculum, students are offered age-appropriate practice of other forms of meditation to focus their attention and experience mental quietness. This may include other prayers and singing of sacred music, and learning to recite, or reflect upon and understand various stories from scripture and fine literature and works of art, as well as through various physical activities. These activities enable the children to learn different ways to acknowledge and experience a greater consciousness and connectedness.
“St. Cecilia’s is a fabulous school. This is my 7th year at this school and there is so much I love about it. For 6 months in Year 3 I moved with my family to live in Hong Kong which was a great experience that I learnt a lot from. Going to another school in Hong Kong made me realise and appreciate how great St. Cecilia’s really is.
There are so many amazing things I love about this school, like all of the amazing teachers who always make learning fun and interesting, the students and friends who are kind, caring and funny, our school garden where we get to grow and harvest vegetables and look after the chickens, the extra - curricular activities drama club, choir, netball and running club and finally, this year the leadership program and all of the amazing opportunities that come with being a in Year 5 and 6. I am so happy at this school.”
Grace, Student
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“These are the things I love most about my school: my friends, my teachers, our specialists and our property.”
Amelie, Student
“The decision to send our daughter to St Cecilia’s was nothing short of effortless. It’s exceptional reputation is firmly entrenched in Christian, community and academic values. The staff and teachers are personable, dedicated and caring beyond their defined roles, creating a special place for our children to learn and thrive.”
Katina, Parent
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