Wellbeing & Inclusion
Montmorency South Primary School is committed to providing a safe, secure and stimulating learning environment for all students. We understand that students reach their full potential when they are happy, healthy and safe, and that a positive school culture helps to engage students and support them in their learning. Our school acknowledges that student wellbeing and student learning outcomes are closely linked.
Montmorency South is an inclusive learning community where students are inspired to be respectful, creative, curious and independent learners. We believe that every person in our school community has the capacity to assist each student in attaining our vision. Our motto is ‘Together we learn, lead and achieve’.
A strong sense of belonging is fundamental to fostering a safe, purposeful, engaging and inclusive learning environment. The development of social competence, resilience, motivation and healthy habits are therefore essential ingredients in the comprehensive and challenging curriculum we provide.
Our dedicated staff team includes a Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator, an Inclusion Coordinator, a School Nurse and our tutors. The broader wellbeing support framework of MSPS includes our Operations and Wellbeing Leaders (OWLs) of which each year level has a representative. The team meet regularly and lead the development and implementation of a whole school approach to health, wellbeing, inclusion and engagement for the school community. They provide a value advisory role to the principal on operational and wellbeing matters.
Emme, our well-loved assistance dog is regularly onsite and is adored by students who need the emotional support that only a gentle furry friend can provide.
Supporting our wellbeing framework and setting MSPS apart from many other schools is its values based learning approach known as TRIBES. The TRIBES mission is to ensure the healthy development of every child to have the knowledge, skills and resilience to be successful in our rapidly changing world. Find out more about Tribes here.
Initiatives & Programs
Mental Health in Primary Schools Program
Montmorency South Primary School participates in the Mental Health in Primary Schools Program which aims to provide mental health support for students in primary schools. The program is delivered in partnership between the Department of Education and Training, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Melbourne Graduate School of Education to provide training and resources to support staff to understand and respond to mental health issues that affect primary school aged students. The focus is to build strong connections between schools and local health services so that students and families are getting the support they need. MSPS has participated in this program since its inception as a pilot project involving nine other Victorian Schools in 2020.
Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships
We utilise the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships learning materials that have been designed for teachers in primary and secondary schools to develop students’ social, emotional and positive relationship skills. Efforts to promote social and emotional skills and positive gender norms in children and young people has been shown to improve health related outcomes and subjective wellbeing. It also reduces antisocial behaviours including engagement in gender-related violence.
The Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) learning materials cover eight topics of Social and Emotional Learning: Emotional Literacy; Personal Strengths; Positive Coping; Problem Solving; Stress Management; Help Seeking; Gender and Identity; and Positive Gender Relationships.
Student Wellbeing Captains/ student Voice
Our Wellbeing Captains contribute to and provide feedback on decisions about school operations through school leadership opportunities as members of the Principal’s Advisory Leaders (PALS) and the Student Action Leaders (SALS).
Our Wellbeing Resources section includes helpful information for students.
Cross-age buddy system & Transitioning support
Preps together with Year 6 students participate in carefully planned transition programs to support students moving into different stages of their schooling. This includes Bridges To School, Step Up to the Next Level and 6-7 transition.
Year 6 – 7 transition includes links with feeder schools throughout the year for various activities such as debating, school sports and leadership sessions etc.
Year 6 students are paired with a prep student at the beginning of each year to become their buddy. During the first half of the year in particular, they do activities together and the Year 6 students provide guidance; acting as role models for the younger students. This develops social skills and responsibility in the older students and helps the preps to settle in and have sense of belonging.