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ST CATHERINE'S LALOR WEST
Wellbeing
Wellbeing at St Catherine’s: Nurturing the Whole Child
At St Catherine’s, we believe that a child’s wellbeing is fundamental to holistic learning, life, and faith. When children feel happy, confident, and connected, they are empowered to engage meaningfully with their learning and build strong, positive relationships with others. A strong sense of wellbeing lays the foundation for students to flourish - not just academically, but emotionally, socially, and spiritually.
A Culture of Respect, Responsibility and Safety
Our school values, Respect, Responsibility, and Safety, are embedded in everything we do. These core values guide our expectations, interactions, and relationships across the school community.
Supporting Student Wellbeing: Programs and Strategies
Through a wide range of targeted wellbeing initiatives, we aim to nurture each child’s personal growth and equip them with the tools they need to navigate life with confidence, compassion, and resilience.
Our wellbeing programs focus on:
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Implementing Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs and strategies to build emotional literacy, empathy, and resilience.
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Building a culture of healthy relationships, where kindness, inclusion, and mutual respect are celebrated.
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Providing Personalised Learning Plan (PLPs), catering to the unique needs and strengths of each child.
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Establishing a whole-school approach to behaviour management, grounded in positive reinforcement and restorative practices.
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Developing Individual Behaviour Plans (IBPs) where necessary, to support students with specific behavioural or emotional needs.
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Encouraging student participation in lunchtime clubs, which foster friendships, creativity, and a sense of belonging.
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Fostering strong partnerships between home and school, recognising that collaboration with families is essential to a child’s wellbeing.
Providing access to community support services for families who may benefit from external assistance.
WELLBEING PROGRAMS
To further enhance our commitment to wellbeing, St Catherine’s offers:
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A qualified onsite councilor, available to support students’ mental health, emotional regulation, and personal challenges.
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A School Chaplaincy service, providing pastoral care, spiritual guidance, and emotional support to students and families.
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The Seasons for Growth program to support children experiencing significant life changes such as grief, loss, or family separation. This specially designed program helps students understand their feelings, develop coping strategies, and build resilience in a safe and supportive environment.
Through guided activities and peer support, children learn that change and loss are natural parts of life and discover healthy ways to express their emotions. The program fosters hope and healing, empowering students to move forward with confidence and a renewed sense of wellbeing.
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Peaceful Kids Program, a proven, evidence-based program designed to help children develop skills to manage anxiety, build resilience, and cultivate calmness.
What is the Peaceful Kids Program?
Peaceful Kids equips children with practical tools to understand and regulate their emotions in a healthy way. Through engaging activities, storytelling, and mindfulness strategies, students learn how to face everyday challenges with confidence and a sense of peace.
Benefits for Students Include:
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Developing effective coping skills for anxiety and stress
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Enhancing self-awareness and emotional regulation
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Building resilience and problem-solving abilities
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Encouraging positive social interactions and friendships
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Fostering a calm, focused mindset to support learning and wellbeing
How We Deliver Peaceful Kids
The program is facilitated by trained staff and tailored to meet the needs of individual students or small groups. Sessions are interactive, supportive, and designed to be age-appropriate for primary school children.
At St Catherine’s, we are committed to educating the whole child. Through our focus on wellbeing, behaviour support, faith, and family partnerships, we aim to prepare our students to be resilient, responsible, and compassionate young people who are ready to em
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Lunch Time Activities
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Garden club
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Chill zone
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Choir
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Lego construction
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Puzzles
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Board games
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Book club
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Art
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Sport
Prep Buddies
Prep Buddies Program at St Catherine’s
At St Catherine’s, our Prep Buddies program plays a vital role in welcoming our youngest students and helping them feel confident and connected from their very first day.
Through this program, older students are paired with our prep students to offer friendship, support, and guidance as they settle into school life. Prep Buddies help their partners learn routines, make friends, and feel part of our caring community.
This special relationship promotes kindness, responsibility, and leadership among older students, while providing younger students with a friendly face and reassuring presence. Together, Pre-Buddies help build a warm, inclusive school culture where everyone feels valued and supported.
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)
At St Catherine’s, as part of the wider Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) network, we embrace Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) as a foundational approach to nurturing respectful, responsible, and safe students who are ready to learn and thrive.
We believe that every student deserves a positive and supportive learning environment where they feel valued, safe, and motivated. Through PBL, we are committed to:
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Creating inclusive, welcoming communities where respectful relationships and positive behaviours are celebrated.
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Empowering students to take ownership of their actions, choices, and learning by clearly teaching and reinforcing behavioural expectations.
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Building consistent, school-wide practices that support wellbeing and engagement for all students.
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Collaborating with families and the broader community to foster a shared responsibility for nurturing confident, compassionate learners.
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Using data and evidence to guide decisions, ensuring targeted support is provided to students who need it most.
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Cultivating a culture where every child can flourish academically, socially, and spiritually, grounded in our Catholic values.
Through this vision, St Catherine’s and all MACS schools strive to create environments where students are inspired to learn, grow, and contribute positively to their communities today and into the future.
Child Safe
St Catherine’s Primary School is deeply committed to the safety and protection of all children, a commitment clearly expressed through our Child Safety Statement. We maintain clear and explicit guidelines that outline the expectations shared by our entire school community regarding child protection and safety. These guidelines are based on the recommendations of the Victorian Department of Education and Training following the Betrayal of Trust report and are underpinned by the PROTECT Child Safe Standards as outlined in Ministerial Order 870.
We believe that children have the right to be heard and to actively participate in our community. We ensure they are involved in decisions that affect them directly, recognising their perspectives as essential and valuable. We listen carefully to their views and treat them with respect and dignity. Our school embraces and promotes diversity and tolerance, welcoming students from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, and abilities, and fostering an inclusive environment where every child feels valued and supported.
Every person who works or volunteers within our community is required to agree to and uphold St Catherine’s Code of Conduct. This code clearly specifies the standards of behaviour expected when working with children to ensure their safety and wellbeing at all times. We strive to create a safe, nurturing, and respectful space where children can learn, grow, and flourish without fear or harm.
In addition to our policies and procedures, we provide ongoing education to staff, students, and families about child safety, encouraging a culture of vigilance and shared responsibility. We are committed to continuous improvement, regularly reviewing and updating our practices to align with best standards and legal requirements. We work closely with families and external agencies to provide the best possible support and protection for every child in our care.
At St Catherine’s, safeguarding children is not just a policy, it is an integral part of who we are as a faith community, dedicated to nurturing and protecting the precious lives entrusted to us.