Wellbeing
St John the Baptist Catholic school believes that being pro-active about supporting, promoting and explicitly teaching mental health and well being strategies is vital in today’s world and into the future.
Students who are socially and emotionally competent are better able to navigate through the challenges of life’s ups and downs with a positive attitude and growth mindset.
Research shows that students who flourish in all aspects of their life experience positive emotions, feel engaged in what they are doing, develop and enjoy positive relationships and find deeper meaning in their lives and strive to achieve their personal best.
All members of the St John the Baptist staff work together along with the school counsellor and school chaplain to create a ‘Circle of Care’ to support wellbeing in our community. With a strong focus on whole school Social Emotional Language our aim is to provide opportunities for our students to live each day to the fullest and to flourish.
St John the Baptist Catholic School supports students' social and emotional learning through a comprehensive, whole-school approach to emotional language that is explicitly taught throughout the year. The curriculum includes mindfulness practices, relaxation strategies, and the MindUp program in each class. The school employs trauma-informed practices to cater to individual student needs and explicitly teaches language about 'Following the group plan' and 'Who's the Boss' to help students navigate social interactions effectively.
The 1-5 emotional scale is a pivotal tool in supporting students' emotional regulation and teaching strategies for lifelong wellbeing. We foster a culture of self-awareness and emotional intelligence. The consistent use of this scale helps students recognise and articulate their emotional states, which is the first step toward managing emotions effectively. Over time, students learn to associate their feelings with specific strategies that help them return to a state of balance and calm. This daily practice not only supports immediate emotional regulation but also equips students with a toolkit of strategies they can use throughout their lives, promoting resilience, self-control, and overall wellbeing.