Assistant Head of Primary P-4 and Curriculum Leader P-4

Curriculum update

Healthy Harold

The Del Monte campus has been buzzing with excitement over the past few weeks as every class — from our youngest learners in Prep and Mary Bailey House to our senior Del Monte students in Years 3 and 4 and the Gioia House girls — had the opportunity to visit the Healthy Harold van.

Led by a Life Education educator (and of course, the much-loved Harold the giraffe!), students engaged in interactive lessons that support our Pastoral and Wellbeing programs and align with the PDHPE curriculum. Topics explored included personal safety, cybersafety, nutrition, physical activity, emotional wellbeing and understanding the human body.

For parents and carers, the Healthy Harold Life Education website offers a wealth of free resources across key areas such as Cybersafety, Emotional Wellbeing, Nutrition, Relationships, and Safety. Please take your time to explore tools like the Be Internet Awesome Family Pledge, healthy recipes and podcasts with Dr Judith Locke and Dr Kaylene Henderson.

These resources are a great way to continue the conversation at home and support your child’s wellbeing journey.

ICAS Tests

Over the past four weeks, many of our students from Years 2 to 6 have taken part in the ICAS Assessments for Writing, English, Spelling Bee and Mathematics. ICAS is an online academic competition designed to challenge students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in a formal, engaging way.

We are proud of all the students who participated and commend them for their effort and commitment. We look forward to sharing their results with families as they are released.

Pastoral update

Bullying no way! National Week of Action

In Week 4, students took part in the Bullying No Way! National Week of Action — Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative for schools. This year’s theme, Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up., recognises the courage it takes to stand up against bullying behaviours.

Through meaningful conversations and activities, students explored the importance of empathy, respect, and kindness. They learnt that bullying is never okay and that everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and respect.

Hope and friendships

This year marks a special occasion for the Universal Church — a Jubilee Year, celebrated every 25 years. The theme chosen by Pope Francis is ‘Pilgrims of Hope,’ inspired by the words ‘Spes non confundit‘ — ‘Hope does not disappoint.’

Hope is more than just a feeling — it’s a powerful mindset that helps children thrive. Dr Justin Coulson, a leading expert in child wellbeing, explains that hopeful children tend to be happier, more resilient and better equipped to face life’s challenges. Hope fosters confidence, goal-setting and a belief in one’s ability to make positive change.

Friendships play a vital role in nurturing hope. They are a child’s emotional training ground, where they learn to:

  • Set goals – like making a new friend or resolving a conflict
  • Find pathways – such as trying different ways to connect or communicate
  • Believe in their agency – to make things better.

Teaching children to have hope in friendships helps them:

  • Build resilience – knowing that someone cares gives children strength to face challenges.
  • Develop empathy – understanding others’ feelings fosters deeper, more meaningful connections.
  • Feel secure – hopeful friendships create a sense of belonging and emotional safety.
  • Learn optimism (and how to put it into action) – seeing that relationships can grow and heal teaches children to look forward to better outcomes.

To explore this theme, students engaged in pastoral lessons focused on developing hope through friendships. These lessons support emotional growth and help children navigate both personal and social challenges with confidence and compassion.

Lauren Petroni
Assistant Head of Primary P-4 and Curriculum Leader P-4