Student Wellbeing
Children and young people are at the heart of all our endeavors in Catholic education.
Our school promotes practices and cultures that enable children and young people to:
- deeply connect ‘who they are’ and ‘how they can be’ in the world to the Catholic faith
- reach their potential
- build positive and connected relationships
- develop skills and attitudes that promote wellbeing and resilience
- deepen their appreciation of learning, their perseverance and their stamina
- lead optimistic, graced and hope-filled lives of impact
Student Voice and Social Justice
We provide opportunities for students to have a say about things that affect them, to make decisions about their learning and to improve their wellbeing, sense of self and connection to learning.
Students from are nominated to represent their class on the school's Student Representative Council (SRC). They meet regularly, with a teacher leader engaging in conversations and actions that support whole school projects and initiatives.
At St Catherine’s School our students and families support many local and global social justice initiatives. We work in partnership with Holy Trinity Parish in initiatives led by organisations such as Caritas and St Vincent De Paul. Our Year 6 Leaders and Class Student Representative Council Leaders work in collaboration to raise awareness and develop actions to make a difference to the disadvantaged and marginalised in our society.
Sustainability
We look to empower our students and the greater community to be connected to our world through experiential learning and positive action ‘to cultivate and take care’ (Gen 2:15) of that which God has gifted to us and without which we cannot exist. Pope Francis* (2015) explains that all Christian communities have an important role to play in ecological education. We strive to provide an education in responsible simplicity of life, in grateful contemplation of God’s world, and concern for the needs of the poor and the protection of the environment.
Education is not only an end in itself, it is also a key instrument for bringing about the changes in knowledge, values, behaviours and lifestyles required to achieve sustainability and stability within and among countries, democracy, human security and peace (UNESCO, 2002)
*Pope Francis. (2015). Laudato Si. Strathfield, NSW: St. Paul’s.
Social and Emotional Learning
Our curriculum and class programs teach students essential skills that assist in enabling them to understand themselves and others and manage their relationships, lives, work, and learning more effectively. We believe that students need to learn to recognise and regulate emotions, develop empathy for others and understand relationships. By building positive relationships, working effectively in teams, developing leadership skills, and handling challenging situations constructively, we are supporting students in their role in families, community, and the workforce.