Positive wellbeing is fundamental to a child’s ability to learn, develop and thrive at school.
We know that when students feel supported, they are more engaged with their learning.
At Sydney Catholic Schools, we commit to providing safe, supportive and inclusive environments which nurture the wellbeing of all students and staff in our community.
Our student wellbeing policy is underpinned by the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework. The framework recognises five elements that are key to supporting the whole school community to build and maintain safe, positive relationships and wellbeing: leadership, inclusion, student voice, partnerships and support.
This is complemented by the Be You Framework, a national initiative for educators aimed at promoting and protecting positive mental health in children and young people. The integration of both frameworks supports our school communities to provide every student with the strongest foundation possible for them to reach their aspirations in learning and in life.
We have a systemic approach to wellbeing and positive behaviour with tiers of support to meet the diverse needs of staff, students and families. The offerings range from whole school initiatives, actively seeking student voice, system policies on anti-bullying, student counselling, staff training in student wellbeing, along with targeted interventions for students with complex social and emotional needs.
The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.
Positive relationships are encouraged at St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Primary School Arncliffe. Teachers, students, and parents discuss the importance of respect and responsibility for learning and behaviour. Our pastoral care policy reflects the school’s vision and mission, as well as that of the Catholic Church. The school implements the principles of restorative justice in the management of students. These principles include: acknowledging the inevitability of conflict and hurt in relationships; working towards healing by repairing relationships; and learning and growing from experience. Our school is committed to ensuring mutually respectful relationships between staff and students as well as the parent community. All decisions are based on the needs and interests of students.
Pastoral Care
At St Francis Xavier’s we believe that pastoral care permeates all aspects of school life. It reflects the values, attitudes, beliefs, and practices of our Catholic faith and involves all members of our school community.
Good pastoral care is exemplified by:
- quality teaching and learning
- appropriate student management
- high expectations of student performance
- teachers who take an interest in the lives of their students.
Pastoral care is concerned with fostering students’ self-discipline. It aims to develop persons who are responsible and inner-directed, and capable of choosing freely in accordance with their conscience. Student Management seeks to promote a respectful, secure environment where students can prosper. It is intrinsically related to the principles and values of the Gospel and to the Christian vision of pastoral care. Practices and procedures for student management at St Francis Xavier’s are based upon restorative practices.
As a philosophy, restorative justice at St Francis Xavier’s provides a framework of student management that moves away from the traditional punitive response, to one which, while still providing limits and consequences, looks for ways to repair and improve existing relationships.
Restorative Justice:
- has clear expectations, limits, and consequences
- is more concerned with harm done rather than which rules/laws have been broken
- is more concerned with making things right and healing rather than what punishment is deserved
- is focused on relationships and how people are affected
- fits within the framework of the Catholic Education Office’s ‘Pastoral Care Guidelines for Catholic Schools (2003)
- educate our students in a happy, secure environment
- promote, live, and celebrate Gospel values and the teachings of the Catholic Church
- build self-confidence and instill a love of learning
- nurture each student’s spiritual, intellectual, physical, and emotional development
- build a sense of optimism and hope.
As important members of the school community, students are valued for the contributions they can make to the school. Leadership potential is encouraged and supported.