Wellbeing at Robe Primary School

Smiling Mind Program

In 2023 our school implemented the Smiling Mind Primary School program; an evidence-based approach to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children between the ages of 5 and 12.  This program, using the Smiling Mind curriculum, uses a range of teaching and learning resources, professional development courses for educators as well as resources for parents and carers. Underpinning the Smiling Mind program is the concept of Mindfulness-based Social and Emotional Learning. Mindfulness-based Social and Emotional Learning aims to develop positive mental health and wellbeing of students, educators and the broader school community.

The six pillars of the Primary Classroom Curriculum are: Student wellbeing, student engagement, positive behaviour, emotional resilience, learning capability and social skills.

Berry Street Education Model

The Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) is a practical approach to teaching and learning that enables teachers to increase engagement with students with complex, unmet learning needs and successfully improve all students’ self-regulation, growth and academic achievement. The pedagogical strategies incorporate evidence-based trauma-aware teaching, positive education, and wellbeing practices.

The five domains of the Berry Street Education Model correspond with child-development capacities that each student must build in order to be ‘ready to learn’. When considering how to best meet the needs of students, Berry Street focuses on building self-regulatory ability, relational capacity and then nurturing a willingness to engage in learning. The five domains are:

Domain 1: Body Building students’ capacity by increasing physical regulation of the stress response, de-escalation and focus.

Domain 2: Relationship Nurturing on-task learning through relational classroom management strategies.

Domain 3: Stamina Creating a culture of academic persistence by nurturing resilience, emotional intelligence and a growth mindset.

Domain 4: Engagement Motivating students with strategies that increase their willingness to learn.

Domain 5: Character Harnessing a values and character strengths approach to instil students’ self-knowledge for future pathways.

Utilising a whole school approach, Berry Street Education Model helps Robe Primary to build consistency and predictability across all classrooms throughout the school.

The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum

Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC) is a child safety and respectful relationships curriculum providing age and developmentally appropriate content and activities for children and young people from age 3 to year 12 (age 17+). The KS:CPC helps children and young people:

• recognise abuse and tell a trusted adult.
• understand what is appropriate and inappropriate touching.
• understand ways to keep themselves safe.

The KS:CPC is mandated in all Department for Education preschools and schools for children and young people from age 3 to year 12. It has gained a world class reputation due to its depth of content, breadth of learning, contemporary nature, and requirements for explicit training.

Buddy Class Program

This informal school program aims to foster connections across a wide range of ages and serve as an informal mentoring program. Buddy Class is designed to encourage supportive, nurturing relationships between children of all ages at Robe Primary. Our buddy program provides the younger students with a sense of connection, support and guidance from older students, while providing our older students with opportunities to act as positive role models and develop their leadership skills, across a wide range of settings.

What’s the Buzz

What’s the Buzz? is social skills enrichment program for primary school students, which encourages children to be more mindful of how they interact with others and explore the benefits of developing new social skills. This highly structured, role-play and play-based program is designed to teach children how to interact positively and make friendship work. What’s the Buzz? is delivered through direct teaching, role-play, quizzes and fun in the context of a small supportive group, and lead by skilled facilitators.