Wellbeing

At our school, student wellbeing and learning go hand in hand. We want every student to feel safe, included and ready to learn. Whether your child needs help with their mental, emotional, social or physical wellbeing, we are here to help them thrive at school and in daily life.

How we support student wellbeing

Supporting each student’s mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing is part of everyday school life.

We do this through:

• teachers who help students feel welcome and included
• access to school counsellors, school psychologists and specialist staff
• programs that support health, social skills, attendance and positive behaviour
• help for students who are new or changing year levels
• clear expectations for behaviour and respectful relationships
• staff who get to know each child and work closely with families
• developing health care plans for students
• open communication about wellbeing and support.

Visit Our principal and staff to learn about our wellbeing and specialist support staff.

We are committed to ensuring a safe and happy environment for your child.

Canterbury Public School has a range of programs designed to create a safe and supportive environment for our students. Student leadership is provided by the school captains and the student representative council (SRC). We have a buddy program to support new Kindergarten students, and we have successful discipline programs that reinforce students' ability to make good choices. We also have the services of a school counsellor on-site as well as a range of support programs for students with learning difficulties. Students in the support unit enjoy social integration with the school community.

We support your child’s health and safety through a range of strategies including:

• the behaviour code for students, which outlines the standards of behaviour expected in all NSW public schools
• anti-racism education
• anti-bullying programs
• conflict resolution and mediation training
• peer support
• road safety education
• the Healthy School Canteen Strategy.

For more information, visit the student wellbeing section of the department’s website.

Like all NSW public schools, we promote the healthy development of students through:

• school programs and practices that protect and promote health and safety
• supporting individual students who need help with health issues
• providing first aid and temporary care of students who become unwell or who have an accident at school.

Student wellbeing

Like all NSW public schools, we provide safe learning and teaching environments to encourage healthy, happy, successful and productive students.

The department is committed to creating quality learning opportunities for children and young people. These opportunities support wellbeing through positive and respectful relationships and fostering a sense of belonging to the school and community.

The Wellbeing Framework for Schools helps schools support the cognitive, physical, social, emotional and spiritual development of students and allows them to connect, succeed and thrive throughout their education.

Positive Behaviour for Learning

At our school, we use Positive Behaviour for Learning – a whole-school approach for creating a positive, safe and supportive school climate where students can learn and develop. Our whole school community works together to establish expected behaviours and teach them to all students.

Canterbury Public School encourages all students to develop their leadership skills and have a sense of responsibility. We have class representatives, sports house captains, a class buddy program and playground buddies. We also run a student representative council and elect a Year 6 leadership team.

Year 6 leadership team

In Year 5, students are given the opportunity to nominate themselves or a classmate for school captain. The top 10 candidates give a speech to the whole school, who then participate in a secret ballot. The boy and girl with the most votes become captains for the following year, which are announced at Recognition Day by the current school captains. The remaining candidates, including vice captains, becoming members of the Year 6 leadership team. Members of the leadership team run events and assemblies, as well as help the teachers by raising the flags and representing the school at official ceremonies.

Student representative council

The student representative council (SRC) is made up of one boy and one girl elected by fellow students from each class, in a secret ballot. The students are elected based on their leadership and communication skills. The SRC meets regularly to give students a chance to put forward ideas about what they want improved and how we can achieve these changes as a school. The SRC are also responsible for fundraising for the school and charities.

Buddies

As a way of making the transition to school a little less daunting for the Kindergarten children, during Term 1, each Kindergarten child is 'buddied' with a Year 6 student. The Year 6 students visit the Kindergarten children each week for a scheduled class, such as art or gardening. This interaction allows the younger children to get to know  the older children in the school while it also allows the older children to exercise leadership and nurturing roles within the school community.

School counselling staff are members of the school learning and support team.

A teacher may recommend the service by referring a student to the school’s learning and support team. As a parent or carer, you may refer your child directly to the school counselling service. Students can also self-refer to the service.

The school counselling service can:

• support students who are worrying about school work, friends, getting in trouble at school or feeling down
• help parents and carers make decisions about your child’s education
• assess a student’s learning and behaviour
• help teachers and students identify and address disabilities that may affect learning
• liaise with other agencies regarding student wellbeing.

School counselling is confidential.

For more information about learning and support teams and the school counselling service, please contact your school.

Need support for your child's wellbeing?

Get in touch to talk about the right support for your child.

Contact us