Student Wellbeing

Student and Staff Wellbeing is one of our main priorities at Montpellier Primary School.

At Montpellier, we believe the components of a successful whole school wellbeing approach at Montpellier are:

Wellbeing principles are part of our everyday teaching and learning practices
Active support from all stakeholders towards a child’s holistic growth
A diverse Wellbeing School Improvement Team to drive the planning, action and monitoring of wellbeing practices across the school
Data informed to ensure what we do is relevant to our students and context

Jess Saunders

Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader

We continue to be a part of the Mental Health in Primary Schools Program for 2024. This includes training and support for our school through our Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader, Jess Saunders. Jess has been working with the Education Department for 17 years and is an advocate for inclusion and wellbeing in primary schools. She was part of a team of experienced teachers, school principals, psychologists and special educators to contribute to one of Australia’s leading social-emotional learning and wellbeing education programs, taught in primary schools across the country.

Mel Palamara

Wellbeing Support

As part of our continued focus on wellbeing at Montpellier, we also provide targeted intervention for students who require further support, assessment and ongoing monitoring for improved mental health and wellbeing. Our Wellbeing Support, Mel Palamara, holds a Master of Education (Special Education) with a major sequence in Education Mental Health and Autism Studies. She also holds a Graduate Certificate of Education (Mental Health).

Any questions regarding intervention should be first communicated with your classroom teacher as both Jess and Mel work closely with staff to provide optimal holistic support for your child.

Our school curriculum incorporates a range of school-wide programs to ensure that our students feel safe and connected to school and the wider community. Our universal (school-wide) supports include:

Social and Emotional Learning

Zones of Regulation
P4P
Values Education – Positive Education
Character Strengths – Positive Education
Respectful Relationships

Whole-school pedagogical approach

Instructional teaching models for improved literacy and numeracy outcomes
High Impact Teaching Strategies
High Impact Wellbeing Strategies
Literacy Workshop Models
Writing Traits
Learner Dispositions

Whole-school approach to positive mental health

School Wide Positive Behaviours
Matrix of expected behaviours
Promotion of new school values
Lunchtime clubs (choir, chess, sports clubs, library, lego, gardening)
Student awards
Eating schedules built in to break times to build relationships
Celebration and promotion of community/diversity days (R U OK day, Greatest Shave, Crazy Hair Day, Harmony Day, Book Week, 100 Days of School)
Principal awards
Parent-teacher conferences
Social and Emotional Learning data and tracking (PIVOT and AtoSS)
Sensory tools, regulation toolboxes, brain breaks and calm corners
Continuous and ongoing assessment to target learning
Internal referral pathways for targeted wellbeing support
Wellbeing School Improvement Team
Student Voice
Student Council
Student Led Assemblies
Smiling Mind mindfulness
Fortnightly newsletters
Camps and Excursions programs
STEM and Art Fairs
Talent Quest and Busker’s Day for students to showcase their interests
Sports Programs

Wellbeing Room