Welcome back to school!!

Today we wanted to re-introduce you to the Wellbeing Team here at St Joseph's Primary School.

The Wellbeing Team reviews all referrals for support that are made. The team meets weekly to discuss the referrals and then decides on the appropriate support to be offered to the student. Support options include engagement with a member of the team for support or external support.

Where it is deemed appropriate for an external support to be engaged, a member of the team will talk with you about ways to access this information that the school can provide to support your referral.

The Wellbeing Team:

Nathan Porter - Assistant Principal (Mission)

My role is to work with staff and students in various groups such as Positive Behaviour Support (PBS Team) and Student Representative Council to develop positive wellbeing across the school. We coordinate student rewards for positive behaviours, set social skills and values as topics for classes to learn and teach and manage the discipline policy.

I have attained a Masters of Student Wellbeing and am passionate about having a safe, fun and positive environment for our entire school community. 

Lyn Kelly - Additional Needs Teacher (Kindergarten to Year 3) 

My role is to work with students who need adjustments and support  to learn and function happily in our school environment. I collaborate with class teachers, parents, various therapists and doctors and the preschools to implement adjustments to ensure success. I also liaise with personnel from the Catholic Schools Office to make sure we are accessing the best support we can for our students. 

Robyn McDougall - Additional Needs Teacher (Year 4 to Year 6)

My role is to work with teachers to support students who need adjustments in their social, emotional or academic learning. We meet with parents to discuss these adjustments and to set up tools that will assist students throughout the day. I am a member of the PBS Team and work with a group of teachers to encourage a positive and reflective attitude in the way we respect ourselves and others.

Kelly Russell - School Counsellor 

I’ve been part of the Joeys team for 3 years and am a registered Psychologist.

This year I will be available to provide support to students on an individual as well as a group basis. 

Individual support:

Referrals for individual support are available for students in consultation with their teacher.

The impact of the concern needs to be seen in the school setting such as in school work, friendships and/or attendance.

Individual counselling support is limited to 5 sessions and any further support that may be needed for your child will be discussed with you in the course of the sessions.

Group support:

Group support will also be available with a number of new groups being introduced this year.

Seasons for Growth is a psychoeducation program with a grief and loss focus. It provides students with a safe space to come together to talk about their experiences with loss and change. This is offered to children in set age groups and runs for 8 weeks. A limited number of students will be in the group.

Cool Kids is a program that supports children who may be worried or anxious. This program will be run for the first time this year and again has limited numbers per group.

Cool Kids assists children and parents in:

• Learning about feelings and anxiety.
• Learning to think realistically.
• Parenting an anxious child.
• Fighting fear by facing fear (stepladders).
• Learning coping skills such as building confidence or problem solving.

As dates for these programs are finalised more information will be provided in the newsletter.

Cate Hearle - Student Support Worker

I have been a member of the team at St Joseph’s Primary for the last 25 years.

My role is to offer emotional support and pastoral care to students when they are experiencing some difficulties.

I liaise with teachers in conjunction with the Wellbeing Team to deliver quality care and support for our students.