Pastoral Care/Student Wellbeing
Class Teachers and School Leaders monitor the personal development of students and provide active support. Classroom teachers are responsible for the general care of the students in their class and provide an initial point of contact for any concerns. Students participate in Christian Meditation Daily and engage in programs to support the developmental skills of resilience, healthy relationships and coping with change.
The school provides support to students through our Wellbeing Team. The support of these staff can be provided to students through staff or family referral and are accessible to all students in our school community on a confidential basis. External referrals can also be provided through the school.
Key Staff
| Assistant Principal Mission | Erin McGovern |
| School Counsellor | Ruth Nolan |
| Behaviour Support Coordinator | Paul Owens |
| Student Support Chaplain | Rochelle Kerfoot |
Programs
- Seasons for Growth
- Storm birds
- Positive Behaviour Support
Services
- School Counselling
- Chaplaincy Behaviour Coaching
Positive Behaviour Support
Our learning community celebrates and nurtures positive behaviour choices. Students and staff have clear expectations regarding appropriate behaviour choices and students are explicitly taught appropriate behaviours to engage in the life at school. We celebrate and recognise students who make positive choices in the classroom, playground and sporting fields through weekly awards at Assembly.
We are blessed to have a Positive Behaviour Support Teacher who provides support and guidance to students, staff and families. Individualised and small group coaching is provided to ensure learners have the tools they need to participate positively at school and in the wider world.
We aim to do this by:
- Building positive relationships in a climate of mutual respect founded on our School Vision and Mission Statement. Teachers acknowledge that they lead by example and that all in the school community are appreciated and valued for their uniqueness.
- Respecting and valuing the individual differences and backgrounds of all members of our school community in maintaining and developing positive relationships in our school community.
- Implementing the school’s Behaviour Management Plan in synergy with our Positive Behaviour Support Program to build a strong partnership between the school, parents, caregivers and the parish community.
Student Representative
The aim of the Student Representative Council is to promote the Vision and Mission of the school. It provides a means of expression of student opinion, enabling students to raise issues concerning their involvement in life at St Joseph’s. The SRC provides a forum for the wider school community to consult a representative body of students. Activities that the SRC are likely to be engaged in include:
- Providing student feedback to surveys for the school;
- Co-ordinating the gathering and presentation of student opinion and ideas on key decisions within the school community;
- Encouraging greater understanding and communication between students, staff, parents and the School Leadership Team;
- Providing a forum for student debate and voice;
- Initiate and provide student leadership within the school’s sporting, social, environmental, cultural and fundraising programs.
- Liaise with and support the social justice initiatives of the Mini-Vinnies,the Enviro Team as well as other social justice groups.
Other Service Learning and Fundraising activities supported in our school community include:
- Fundraising for local, national and international charities and Not-for-Profit Organisations;
- Visits to local nursing homes;
- St Vincent De Paul Winter Appeal, “Socktober” and Caritas.
Student Services
A number of other Student groups within our school include:
Mini-Vinnies
The St Vincent de Paul Society is a lay Catholic organisation that aspires to live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice and joy, and by working to shape a more just and compassionate society. At St Joseph’s we encourage students to work as charitable members of our school and wider community to offer people in need “a hand up”. We do this by raising awareness of social justice issues and fundraising through events such as the Vinnies Winter Appeal and the collection of Christmas Hampers.
Enviro Team
St Joseph’s has an Enviro team comprised of self nominated children from Year 1-6. The children meet with the Enviro Team teachers each week to examine current practices within the school and to develop opportunities for educating the school community about environmental issues. The children present regularly at our School Assembly, in classrooms and provide important information regarding sustainability via the School Newsletter.
Programs we participate in include:Clean Up Australia Schools Day
World Environment Day 5th June
Recycling Collection Point
At St Joseph’s we are always looking for ways to teach our students sustainable practices. Many of our recycling efforts go to assist those in need in our community and abroad.
- INK CARTRIDGES https://planetark.org/
- MOBILE PHONES https://www.mobilemuster.com.au/
- USED STAMPS https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-20/signed,-sealed,-delivered:-donating-used-stamps-for-35-years/8963106
- ALUMINIUM CANS / PLASTIC BOTTLES AND POPPERS https://returnandearn.org.au/
- PRESCRIPTION GLASSES https://www.opsm.com.au/eye-care/onesight
- BATTERIES https://www.batteryworld.com.au/Recycling/School-Recycling-Program
- POSTAGE/MAIL SATCHELS https://www.terracycle.com/en-AU/brigades/mailing-satchel-brigade
- ORAL CARE PRODUCTS https://www.terracycle.com/en-AU/brigades/oral-care-brigade
Student Leadership & Service Learning
St Joseph’s Primary School is a Christian community, committed to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ through word and example. We encourage all of our students to involve themselves in leadership opportunities and social justice initiatives and groups. We encourage and support authentic opportunities for ‘student voice’.
We have 4 School Captains who represent the school and are members of the Year 6 cohort.