Wellbeing

Wellbeing at Powlett River Primary School

At Powlett River Primary School, student wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that when students feel safe, connected, and supported, they are ready to learn, grow, and thrive. Our commitment to wellbeing is evident in every classroom, program, and interaction across the school.

Strong Tier 1 Practices for Every Student

We use a whole-school approach built on strong Tier 1 practices, ensuring that every child receives consistent, high-quality support every day. This includes:

• Explicit Instruction across all learning areas, with clear goals and direct teaching to support all learners.
• School-Wide Learning Routines & Engagement Norms to create predictability, consistency, and focus.
• Positive Classroom Management Strategies (PCMS) that promote student agency, respectful behaviour, and a positive learning climate.
• Boardmaker Daily Schedules and Emoji Emotion Check-Ins that provide visual and emotional structure, helping students to feel calm and ready for learning.
• Morning Meetings to build connection, set intentions, and foster a strong sense of belonging each day.
• Breakfast Club, available to all students, ensuring a nourishing start to every day.

With small class sizes (fewer than 15 students per room), every child benefits from individual attention and strong relationships with their teachers and peers.

Social & Emotional Learning

Our approach to social and emotional learning (SEL) is intentional, neuro-affirming, and tailored to support the diverse needs of all learners. Key programs include:

• Powlett River SEL Program – explicitly teaching emotional literacy, brain science, interoception (understanding internal body signals), and communication tools such as “I” messages.
• Social Stencil (Grades 3–6) – a neuro-affirming, strengths-based program designed to support social thinking, emotional regulation, and inclusive communication.
• Respectful Relationships – helping students build respectful, positive relationships with themselves and others.

Outdoor & Experiential Learning

Our OUTSIDE Program (Outdoors, Understanding, Teamwork, Skills, Immersion, Discovery, Enquiry) offers rich outdoor learning experiences that promote wellbeing through exploration, teamwork, and connection to nature.

Academic Programs Supporting Wellbeing

We know that success in learning contributes to positive wellbeing. That’s why we integrate:

• An Interleaved Maths Curriculum, providing repeated exposure and review to build deep, confident understanding.
• Systematic Synthetic Structured Phonics, ensuring every student becomes a capable and confident reader.
• Regular use of Explicit Instruction and scaffolded practice, so all students experience success and growth.

Inclusive Practices & Community Values

Inclusion is not just something we do – it is who we are. At Powlett River Primary School, we proudly uphold our Vision of Inclusion, which ensures that every child is valued, supported, and celebrated. This is supported by:

• Partnerships with the Department of Education Inclusion Outreach Coaching Model, helping teachers adapt and grow inclusive practices with expert support.
• Incorporating universal design for learning, enabling access to the curriculum.

Mental Health & Specialist Support

Our dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Teacher, Carla Golden, works across the school to support student mental health, running small group sessions, and strengthening social-emotional learning practices in all classrooms.