Wellbeing at St Maria Goretti Catholic Primary School

At St Maria Goretti Catholic Primary School, wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. Our approach is guided by the Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA) Wellbeing Framework, which defines wellbeing as:

"The combination of feeling good, functioning well and doing good for others and, within a Catholic pastoral community, connecting to God. Every member of a school community is responsible for the wellbeing of both themselves and others."

CEWA describes flourishing as the most optimal positive experience of wellbeing. It is a vision where each and every person lives life fully, experiences the abundance of God's love, and participates meaningfully in all aspects of human society.

As a Catholic school community, we are committed to creating the conditions that enable every student, staff member, and family to flourish. We believe that students thrive when they feel safe, connected, valued, and supported. Through positive relationships, faith, learning, and a strong sense of belonging, we help students develop the confidence, resilience, and character needed to navigate life's opportunities and challenges.

Wellbeing at SMG is not a standalone program—it is woven into everyday school life. Through evidence-based programs, positive relationships, and proactive support, we foster an environment where every student feels safe, connected, valued, and ready to learn.

Berry Street Education Model (BSEM)

St Maria Goretti implements strategies from the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM), a trauma-informed approach that supports students' self-regulation, relationships, engagement, and wellbeing.

BSEM is shaped by 140 years of experience, decades of research and thousands of dedicated teachers. The programme helps educators gain new perspectives, strategies, and skills to build safer, healthier, and more engaging classrooms for all students. The BSEM model helps all students succeed and build a school of choice for students, parents, and teachers alike. The BSEM equips both mainstream and specialist schools with practical, classroom-based strategies to increase the engagement of all students, including those with complex, unmet learning needs. The education model enables schools to support students’ self-regulation, relationships, and wellbeing to increase student engagement and significantly improve academic achievement.

Through consistent classroom practices, students learn how to recognise and manage emotions, develop positive relationships, and build readiness for learning. BSEM strategies are embedded into daily classroom routines and help create calm, predictable, and supportive learning environments where all students can feel successful and connected.

https://www.berrystreet.org.au/learning-and-resources/berry-street-education-model

U R Strong

Friendships are an important part of every child's wellbeing. Through the U R Strong friendship program, students learn a common language for building and maintaining healthy relationships.

Students are taught practical skills to:

• Develop strong and respectful friendships
• Solve friendship challenges independently
• Communicate effectively
• Understand and manage conflict
• Build empathy and social confidence

The U R Strong approach empowers students to become resilient friendship problem-solvers and contributes to a positive and inclusive school culture.

https://urstrong.com/parents/

Character Strengths

At SMG, we help students identify and develop their unique Character Strengths. Drawing on Positive Psychology research, students learn that everyone possesses strengths that can be used to support learning, relationships, and wellbeing.

By recognising and applying strengths such as kindness, perseverance, bravery, gratitude, teamwork, curiosity, humour, and self-regulation, students develop greater self-awareness, confidence, and resilience. Character Strengths are celebrated across the school and connected to our SHINE values, helping students understand how they can positively contribute to their community.

Seasons for Growth

Life is full of change, and sometimes children need additional support to navigate significant transitions. SMG offers the Seasons for Growth program for students experiencing challenges such as family separation, grief and loss, friendship difficulties, moving schools, or other life changes.

This small-group program provides a safe and supportive environment where students can:

• Understand that change is a normal part of life
• Develop coping strategies and resilience
• Build emotional literacy
• Share experiences with peers in a supportive setting
• Strengthen their confidence and wellbeing

Led by trained facilitators, Seasons for Growth helps students build the skills and understanding needed to manage change in positive and healthy ways.

https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/programs/seasons-for-growth-children-and-young-people/

Measuring Wellbeing

At St Maria Goretti, we believe that effective wellbeing initiatives should be informed by evidence. To better understand the wellbeing experiences of our students, staff, and families, we participate in the Assessing Wellbeing in Education (AWE) survey.

The AWE survey provides valuable insights into student wellbeing, engagement, resilience, relationships, emotional wellbeing, and school connectedness. The data allows us to identify strengths, celebrate successes, and determine areas for growth.

By listening to the voices of students, staff, and families, we can make informed decisions that support continuous improvement and ensure our wellbeing initiatives are meeting the needs of our community.

https://www.awesomeschools.com/

Wellbeing Leadership

The wellbeing initiatives at St Maria Goretti are supported by Miss Alana Brennan, who serves as the school's Wellbeing Officer one day each week. Ms Brennan holds a Graduate Certificate in Wellbeing in Education and a Master of Education (Leadership and Management) from the University of Notre Dame Australia. Working alongside students, staff, families, and school leadership, she coordinates wellbeing programs, supports family engagement and helps ensure wellbeing remains a priority across all aspects of school life.

Partnering with Families

We recognise that wellbeing is strongest when schools and families work together. Through ongoing communication, parent education opportunities, wellbeing resources, and collaborative support, we strive to build strong partnerships that benefit every child.

Counsellor's Corner

Supporting children's wellbeing is most effective when schools and families work together. To strengthen this partnership, St Maria Goretti provides a weekly Counsellor's Corner through the school app.

Each week, families receive practical, evidence-informed information, strategies, and resources related to children's social and emotional wellbeing. Topics may include resilience, friendships, anxiety, emotional regulation, positive parenting, growth mindset, gratitude, self-esteem, healthy habits, and supporting children through challenges and transitions.

By sharing regular wellbeing information and resources, we hope to empower families with the knowledge and tools needed to support their child's growth and wellbeing beyond the classroom.

Our Commitment

At St Maria Goretti Catholic Primary School, wellbeing is everyone's responsibility. Through evidence-based programs, strong relationships, student voice, family partnerships, and a commitment to helping every child flourish, we are creating a community where students feel safe, connected, valued, and empowered.