Parents, families and teachers from the five eastern suburbs Catholic primary schools have come together for the first of a series of workshops designed to help improve wellbeing in children.
Held at St Francis of Assisi School Newton and St Joseph’s Payneham, the workshops were aimed at parents and carers, with a focus on practical ways to stay connected to children for resilience, confidence and wellbeing.
The participating schools are St Joseph’s School Hectorville, St Joseph’s Memorial School Norwood, St Francis of Assisi School Newton, St Joseph’s School Payneham, and St Joseph’s School Tranmere.
The five schools collaborate as part of Catholic Education SA’s ‘Eastern Star Project’, combining resources and working together to ensure each child feels connected and safe, and thrives not just academically, but also socially, spiritually, and emotionally.
The workshop, delivered in two repeat sessions to meet COVID-19 requirements, was presented by dynamic speaker Madhavi Nawana Parker, the Managing Director of Positive Minds Australia.
The South Australian company works to build confidence, resilience, social emotional intelligence and wellbeing for young people, their families, schools and organisations.
“Supporting our children to feel confident that they are loveable, likable, noticeable and authentic is empowering for them”, said Madhavi.
The interactive one-hour workshops gave the opportunity for participants to ask questions of the highly experienced Madhavi, who has over 20 years of professional experience working with young people, families and schools.
“It was inspiring as an educator and parent listening to Madhavi speak about developing and growing resilience in children”, said Alison Hubner-Booth, Pedagogical Coach at St Francis of Assisi School and Catholic school parent.
“She shared with us the importance of giving children the opportunity to think for themselves, negotiate, compromise, make decisions, take healthy risks, connect positively with others and have agency in their own life.”
Madhavi also discussed the importance of empathy and accepting and acknowledging feelings, how as adults we act as mirrors for our children.
As part of an overarching regional wellbeing strategy, two workshops will be held each term in each of the five schools in 2021. Other planned topics include dealing with different emotions, engagement, friendships and cyber-safety.
To further support the wellbeing of students, staff and families, a Wellbeing Working Group has been established to work across the five schools and a Wellbeing Week will be held at each school in the first week of Term 1, 2021.
Pictured L-R: Simon Mechis, Principal St Joseph’s School Payneham, Madhavi Nawana Parker, Managing Director of Positive Minds Australia, Suzanne Budd, Eastern Star Project Leader, Catholic Education SA, and Brady Stallard, Principal St Joseph’s Memorial School Norwood/Kensington.
An inaugural ‘Head of Village’ has been appointed for the new Catholic Northern Adelaide Education & Community Services Village set to open at Davoren Park in 2022.
Mrs Kelly Bunyon will lead the first Catholic school within the Village, that will support young people aged 17-24 who are experiencing social, emotional or behavioural difficulties.
