Pastoral Care/Student Wellbeing

Stage Parent Support Teams are a rewarding and interactive way to become more involved in our school community. These teams promote a sense of belonging and support those in need, as well as serve as an additional point of contact for parents to relay information, concerns, and suggestions to the school administration. These team members also assist with the sharing of important school announcements, updates, and event information with the parents in their class group. They encourage parent involvement in school activities, events, and volunteer opportunities. They may also organise social gatherings or parent meetings to foster relationships and encourage positive and constructive conversations.

The Community Tuckerbox is a special initiative at St Francis Xavier that aims to provide support and assistance to members of our school community who may be facing challenging circumstances. The Community Tuckerbox is a dedicated resource where essential food items, personal care products, and other necessities are made available for our families to access when needed.

Mini Vinnies is an engaging and empowering program at St Francis Xavier that encourages primary school students to make a positive difference in their local and global communities. Inspired by the work of the St Vincent de Paul Society, Mini Vinnies provides young students with the opportunity to develop their compassion, empathy, and leadership skills through various acts of service and social justice initiatives.

As leaders of the school, Stage 3 students are given the opportunity to be peer mediators to support younger students during lunchtime, particularly for Kindergarten and Stage 1 students. Their goal is to ensure everyone at our school feels included and is treated with kindness. Peer mediators are guided by teachers to support younger students when solving minor conflicts to have an enjoyable and safe playtime.

Our Buddy Program is thoughtfully designed to offer support and build meaningful relationships between  Kindergarten and Year 6 students. This program plays a crucial role in helping children as they embark on their first year of school, ensuring they feel secure and connected to the larger school community. It also instils a sense of responsibility in our older students, nurturing their leadership skills and empathy.

At St Francis Xavier, we strongly encourage all students to showcase leadership by leading by example and engaging in acts of service. We provide ample opportunities for students to develop this important skill through a variety of experiences, including the Year 6 Leadership Ministries. These ministries allow our students to take on leadership roles, exercise their decision-making abilities, and contribute positively to the school community. We believe that in developing students' leadership skills, we empower them to be confident and responsible individuals who will make a difference in our world.

At St Francis Xavier, we are committed to Positive Behaviour Support to ensure the overall well-being and success of our students. Our Positive Behavior Support (PBS) framework is designed to promote positive behaviours, create a safe and inclusive atmosphere, and enhance the learning experience for all.

In our PBS approach, we focus on the following key elements:

• Clear Expectations: We have established clear behaviour expectations that are communicated consistently to all students, staff, and parents. These expectations outline the behaviours we value and are encouraged across all settings within our school community.
• Explicit Teaching and Modeling: Our teachers actively teach and model positive behaviours, providing explicit instruction on expected behaviours and reinforcing them through consistent reminders and examples. We believe that teaching and reinforcing positive behaviours contribute to a supportive learning environment. Our expectations include three overarching behaviours:
• Respect Self
• Respect Others
• Respect the Environment
• Recognition and Rewards: We believe in the importance of acknowledging and celebrating students' positive behaviours. Our recognition and reward system reinforces and motivates students to continue recognised positive behaviours, fostering a culture of appreciation and encouragement. Students receive tokens individually for displaying positive behaviours that contribute to a class-based reward at the end of the term. Classes can receive tokens for acknowledgement of a group application to positive expectations. 
• Restorative Practices: We promote restorative practices to address conflicts and resolve issues in a constructive and supportive manner. By emphasising empathy, communication, and understanding, we aim to build healthy relationships and promote problem-solving skills among our students.
• Social-Emotional Learning: We incorporate social-emotional learning into our curriculum, providing opportunities for students to develop essential life skills such as self-awareness, empathy, responsible decision-making, and relationship-building. By prioritising social-emotional growth, we support the overall well-being of our students.
• Family and Community Engagement: We actively involve parents and the wider community in our PBS efforts. We recognise the importance of collaboration between home and school in reinforcing positive behaviours and creating a consistent environment that supports student success.

Through our Positive Behaviour Support framework, we strive to create a nurturing and respectful school culture where every student feels valued, supported, and motivated to reach their full potential. We empower our students to become responsible, compassionate, and successful individuals by promoting positive behaviours and providing a foundation for social-emotional growth.

At St Francis Xavier, our school counsellor is available to work with students and families who may require additional support. The school counsellor works closely with the wellbeing support teacher to provide 1:1 and small group sessions such as Seasons for Growth and social skills support.