REACH FOR THE STARS KINDERGARTEN TRANSITION PROGRAM 2021

Is your child ready for school next year? Is school ready for your child next year? Set your child up for success in 2022 by enrolling her or him in the St Mary’s ‘Reach for the Stars’ Kindergarten Transition Program. 

When? Each Tuesday from 8.50 am to 3.10 pm for 10 weeks, starting Tuesday, August 17th and running until Tuesday, November 2nd. 

Ā ‘Reach for the Stars is based on the latest research around Play-based learning and is being led by Kindergarten Teacher, Felicity Kew, along with a Teacher Assistant.Ā Ā 

Please contact the school office on 6993 1775 to book a place for your child.

Student Wellbeing

Student Wellbeing

All Australian schools should be safe, supportive and respectful teaching and learning communities which promote student wellbeing. Wellbeing is essential for learning and our Catholic schools are committed to ensuring that every student is nurtured and supported to achieve their potential.

The Catholic identity and mission of our schools to develop the whole child, ensuring that their spiritual, social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs are met to ensure lifelong learning and wellbeing. This exists within a system of high-quality interpersonal relationships of care and support. Our schools promote a respectful, secure and healthy environment where our students grow within a community of faith.

Our Catholic school communities take proactive whole-school approaches to developing effective wellbeing practices and policies including those for student safety, mental health and pastoral care. Wellbeing is optimised when students feel safe, connected to their school communities and engaged in learning.

Some of the wellbeing initiatives that are being utilised in our Catholic schools include:

  • Positive Behaviour Support including the use of Collaborative and Proactive SolutionsĀ® (Dr Ross Greene)
  • Restorative Practices
  • Social Emotional Learning programs ā€“ programs that help children to develop self-awareness, self-management, relationship skills and decision-making ā€“ you might hear school staff speak about programs called ā€˜Bounce Backā€™, ā€˜Zones of Regulation, ā€˜Making Jesus Realā€™, ā€˜The Resilience Projectā€™ or others
  • Be You ā€“ a framework for schools that encourages positive mental health and wellbeing
  • Healthy Children Initiative (HCI) – is a primary school program which includes Crunch&SipĀ® – schools have an important role in developing and supporting children’s healthy eating and physical activity habits.

Health, wellbeing and relationships are taught in primary schools in the diocese as part of Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) programs from Kindergarten to Year 6. The PDHPE syllabus provides a strengths-based approach to develop knowledge and skills so that students enhance their own health, safety and wellbeing. This program incorporates drug education, safety, mental health and wellbeing, sexuality and sexual health, as well as food and nutrition and physical activity.  

Teaching and Learning at CEWF

The Statement of Faith and Mission for Catholic Education Wilcannia-Forbes, ā€œFaith, Learning and Transformation in Jesus Christā€ articulates a commitment to our moral purpose of helping students develop their full potential and improving their lives through learning. 

Teaching and Learning Programs are based on a Catholic worldview and aim to foster the skills and dispositions to support students navigate a complex, rapidly evolving world. Quality teaching and learning respects the human dignity of each person and gives students and teachers the tools they need to learn and to be innovative thinkers and solution finders.  

Our schools implement contemporary pedagogies and practices supported by an evidence base to continually drive improvement among students and adults as a community of learners. Diverse learning needs are addressed within each classroom and are supported by a range of curriculum choices, intervention, extension and co-curricular programs.

Visit the ā€˜Curriculumā€™ section to view a range of creative, responsive approaches for effective learning environments that are implemented across diocesan schools.

COVID-19

COVID-19

COVID -19 INFORMATION

The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is a top priority and we are closely monitoring the development of the COVID-19 coronavirus situation and are committed to the following guidance provided by the relevant authorities.

Guidelines have been provided to all schools regarding current COVID-19 protocols, in accordance with advice provided by NSW Health, AHPPC, and Catholic Schools NSW – see links below

NSW Health,

AHPPC

Catholic Schools NSW

If you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to your relevant school principal in the first instance.

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

We recognise and understand the feelings of anxiety, distress and concern many people may be experiencing in relation to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and offer the following wellbeing advice.

The Australian Psychological Society has advice about maintaining positive mental health during the outbreak.

Talking to your child about COVID-19

Schooltv.me has released a helpful short video that details how to talk to your child about the pandemic (suitable for primary and secondary students).

Queensland Government has a range of storybooks to read with younger children, these cover challenging topics such as sickness and natural disasters.

The Child Mind Institute has provided an article on Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus

Psychology Today has an overview on How to Talk to Kids and Teens About the Coronavirus

Other available resources:

Kids Helpline  is a telephone counselling support line for children and young people ages 5 to 25 and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Helpful information is available on their website for children and young people, parents and carers, schools and teachers.

Other reliable sources of information for maintaining good mental health include:

Online safety

We recommend the following information regarding online safety from the Australian Government eSafety Commissioner

Strategic plan

Enlightened by
Faith

Empowered by
Learning

Enabled through Stewardship

The strategic priorities of our organisation are outlined in our CEWF Strategic Plan for Wilcannia-Forbes Diocesan Schools.

To achieve our vision for Wilcannia-Forbes Diocesan Schools, our objectives and actions involve an education that is:

  • Enlightened by faith
  • Empowered by learning
  • Enabled through stewardship
CEWF Strategic Plan
CEWF Strategic Plan 2021 – 2023