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Wellbeing
Our Lady of the Assumption
Wellbeing
Our Lady of the Assumption Primary School
Our Lady of the Assumption is committed to providing safe, secure and high quality learning and development opportunities for every student. We believe students will reach their full educational potential when they are happy, healthy and safe. Social and emotional learning can help students learn the competencies and skil​​ls they need to build resilience and effectively manage their emotions, behaviour and relationships with others.
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Wellbeing refers to students’ cognitive, physical, social, spiritual and emotional development. This is fundamental to successful learning. Children and young people who are happy, confident and able to establish meaningful relationships are better placed to achieve positive learning outcomes. At OLA, we strive to provide an environment and comprehensive curriculum that supports students to develop knowledge, understanding and skills to manage their own health and wellbeing and to support that of others.
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Student engagement has three interrelated components: behavioural, emotional and cognitive engagement.
Behavioural engagement refers to students’ participation in education, including the academic, social and extracurricular activities of our school. Emotional engagement encompasses students’ emotional reactions in the classroom and in the school and measures a students’ sense of belonging or connectedness to our school.
Cognitive engagement relates to a students’ investment in learning and their intrinsic motivation and self-regulation.
At OLA we use many programs, opportunities, strategies and physical spaces to ensure our students develop a healthy mind and body. These include:
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Peaceful Classrooms and Peaceful Kids programs
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Daily meditation
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Lunch Clubs
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Positive Behaviour Approach
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Transition Programs
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Chill Out Room
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Inform and Empower cybersafety program
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School Psychologist
Fire Carrier
Seeking to keep the Reconciliation flame alight
The FIRE Carrier Program seeks to keep the Reconciliation flame alight in schools.
As a school and a community that acknowledges that our school is on Boon Wurrung land, the FIRE Carrier project allows us to demonstrate our support and encouragement for Indigenous Australians through word and action, not only those in our local community, but also to all Indigenous Australian communities.
The purpose of this program is to provide opportunities for our school and community to develop awareness and understanding of Indigenous culture. Through this, we foster and encourage the development of relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous schools, the local and the wider community.
Throughout the year our FIRE Carriers will:
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raise awareness and promote Indigenous culture at OLA
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fundraise for ‘Open the Doors Foundation’
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represent OLA at community events and gatherings
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help with Reconciliation activities and celebrations
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participate and lead Aboriginal prayer and liturgy
Fire Carrier
Meditation
Focusing on mind-body spiritual relaxation
Whole School meditation is practised daily to relaxation music. Students focus on mind–body spiritual relaxation. During meditation, we concentrate on one particular thing, such as our breathing, sounds, body movements and feelings. This helps train our mind to stay focused and peaceful during times of stress.
Meditation
Peaceful Classrooms
Supporting mindfulness
The Peaceful Classrooms program and Peaceful Kids program for identified students further support the wellbeing of our students. The programs provide lessons, meditations and activities to support all children in the classroom or groups to develop an ongoing Mindfulness practice, learn about Mindfulness and to embed this into their day to day lives.
Peaceful Classrooms
Transition Programs
A successful start
Our Transition Programs allow each child to have a successful start to primary and secondary school. The Prep Transition program includes school tours, parent/child interviews, kinder visits and orientation sessions. The Secondary Transition program includes visits from our past students to speak to our Grade Six cohort, transition forms are completed by our class teachers to best inform secondary schools on each student's strengths and opportunities for learning.
Transition Programs
Student Wellbeing Engagement and Love for Learning
A focus on student wellbeing engagement
At OLA we begin the school year with a SWELL term. A SWELL (Student Wellbeing Engagement and Love for Learning) term focuses on the wellbeing of our students by providing opportunities for students to transition back into school, develop new friendships and engage in learning activities while feeling happy, safe and secure. Some opportunities include:
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visit from St. John’s Ambulance
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visit from Australian Dental Van
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get to know you activities and games
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opening of the school year Mass
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Culture Connections and Have a Ball
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swimming program
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family picnic and welcome evening.
SWELL
Positive Behaviour Approach
Expectations & behaviours
We have worked in collaboration with Patrice Wiseman, a Behaviour Consultant, on a whole school approach focussing on building positive relationships. Our Positive Behaviour Support approach allows us to support students by using prevention strategies, teaching replacement skills, and responding to challenging behaviours. We have worked as a staff to revise our OLA Expectations and our Behaviour Management Plan to align with our whole school Positive Behaviour Approach.
Respectful Relationships
Embedding a culture of respect
Respectful Relationships education is a core component of the Victorian Curriculum from Foundation to Year 12. It is all about embedding a culture of respect and equality across the entire school community. The Respectful Relationships program supports schools and early childhood settings to promote and model respect, positive attitudes and behaviours. It teaches our children how to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence.
Chill Out Room
Managing emotions
Our Chill Out Room is a safe and supportive space where children can take time to self-regulate, have a quiet moment, or speak with a member of our wellbeing team. At OLA, students can use an 'orange card' to leave the classroom and access the Chill Out Room when needed. This system is part of our Positive Behaviour Approach and helps children manage their emotions in a healthy and respectful way.
Lunch Time Clubs
Making lunch times extra special
Lunchtime clubs at OLA offer students the opportunity to engage and participate in activities that they enjoy and are passionate about, socialise with groups of multi-age students, 'take a break' from the playground or try something new. We have many lunch clubs at OLA which include:
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construction
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walking
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drawing
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chess
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hip hop dancing
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library
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robotics
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card swap (footy season).
Lunch Time Clubs
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