Wellbeing
St Simon the Apostle Primary School Rowville
St Simon’s fosters the overall development of all students through provision of appropriate support that will facilitate growth and development in knowledge and skills.
St Simon’s approach to student wellbeing emphasises the uniqueness and individual worth of each student. At St Simon’s we address the academic, social, spiritual, behavioural, emotional and physical needs of students through processes and programs that are proactive and inclusive.
St Simon’s Student Wellbeing Leader collaborates with teachers, parents and professionals to provide appropriate support for all students at our school as outlined below.
The Resilience Project
We are proudly partnered with The Resilience Project to assist in building awareness and lifelong strategies to support students develop resilience and positive mental health strategies.
Implementing The Resilience Project at St Simon the Apostle offers numerous benefits for the mental development of students. The project's focus on Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness (GEM) fosters a supportive environment where children can thrive emotionally and socially. Through gratitude practices, students learn to appreciate the positives in their lives, enhancing their overall sense of well-being. Empathy lessons promote understanding and compassion, helping students build stronger interpersonal relationships and navigate conflicts with empathy and kindness. Additionally, mindfulness techniques teach children to manage stress and emotions effectively, improving their concentration and resilience. By integrating these pillars into the school curriculum, The Resilience Project equips students with essential skills for navigating life's challenges and promotes a positive school culture centered on mental well-being.
Positive Behaviour for Learning
St Simon’s has developed a whole-school approach to Wellbeing for our school community. We follow the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) program. This evidence-based approach aims to set students up for success by having clear expectations of acceptable and positive behaviour through specific lessons and visual reminders throughout the school.
Diverse Learning Needs
‘Learning diversity’ refers to the infinite variety of life experiences and attributes a child brings to their formal learning at school’ (Horizons of Hope, 2017). At St Simon’s we have built an inclusive culture in which we embrace and support the inclusion and equity of all students with diverse learning needs in our school community. These diverse needs may include specific learning challenges, physical disability, gifted and talented students, new arrivals or ongoing illness or allergy.
As part of our ongoing commitment to our students and families at St Simons, we have a Learning Diversity Leader who facilitates our Learning Diversity Service. This service provides support to these students, along with families and teachers, to ensure active engagement and enriching learning experiences for all students. This may involve initiating referral processes, assisting teachers to develop and implement individual learning programs for students, assisting with policy development and facilitating professional development for staff.
The Learning Diversity Service will also liaise with specialists including Speech Pathologists, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Counsellors. The Learning Diversity Service ensures the effective use of resources, strategies and programs to cater for the needs, uniqueness and dignity of all students.
Wellbeing Programs
Utilising various programs and resources we aim to lead the children to:
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assist them in developing attitudes and values that will enable them to enjoy inner security and to relate comfortably with other persons.
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be at peace with themselves.
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be positive members of society.
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be resilient
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know themselves – strengths/challenges.
To achieve this the children will be given the opportunity to:
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develop skills needed for engaging in relationships, making decisions and taking action in everyday life within society.
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deal with disappointments and acknowledge that someone may have more skills in an area.
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learn knowledge useful in everyday life.
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understand and value themselves, others and the environment.
The various programs include:
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e-Safety programs - Years P to 6
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Assertive Discipline Program
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Buddy Program
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Circle Time
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Counselling Services
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Cross Country – Grade 3 to 6
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Environmental Group
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i Sea, i Care program - Years 5 and 6
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Health Education
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STEM lunch time clubs
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Interschool Sports – Year 5 & 6 – District & Zone Level
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Leadership Program
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Outdoor Ed Program – Year 5 & 6
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Resilience Building
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School Sports Day
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SEL – Social/Emotional Literacy
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Student Action Team Leaders – Year 6
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Student Representative Council – Year 1 to 6
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Swimming – Water Safety
Excursions/Incursions
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Designed to enhance learning outcomes through a variety of experiences, e.g. visit to the zoo, puppet show held at the school.
