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

Pastoral Update

R U OK? Day at Del Monte

Last Thursday, the Del Monte campus was bright with yellow as students and staff came together to celebrate R U OK? Day. Children wore splashes of yellow, engaged in thoughtful classroom activities and attended a special assembly led by our student leaders from the Wellbeing Team. The day was a meaningful celebration of connection, kindness and care – highlighting the importance of looking out for one another.

R U OK? Day is a national initiative in Australia that encourages people to check in with those around them by asking, ‘Are you OK?’ It’s a simple but powerful question that can start conversations and offer support to someone who may be struggling. Held each September, the day promotes empathy, connection and emotional support – especially during times of stress or isolation.

During the assembly, the Wellbeing Team shared practical ways students can carry this message into their everyday lives. They encouraged children to notice when someone might be playing alone and to take action — whether by asking if they’re okay, helping them find a friend or teacher, or inviting them to join a game. These small acts of kindness help build a culture of care and inclusion across the school.

R U OK? Day is part of our broader pastoral care program, which includes initiatives such as UR Strong’s Friendology program and the Zones of Regulation. These programs are grounded in current research and support students in developing emotional literacy, respectful relationships and strategies to solve friendship challenges. Together, they help children build a shared language around wellbeing and foster a supportive school environment.

Parents play a vital role in reinforcing these values at home. By encouraging open and honest conversations, you help your child feel safe expressing their emotions. It’s important to validate their feelings and reassure them that it’s okay to feel sad, worried or confused. Reading stories that explore emotions and friendships can also be a gentle way to build understanding. Most importantly, being present and attentive during daily check-ins – whether at the dinner table, during bedtime routines or on the way to school – helps children feel heard, supported and connected.

National Child Protection Week

Last week, we recognised National Child Protection Week – an annual campaign that encourages all Australians, including families, schools and communities, to work together to keep children safe and supported.

This year’s theme, Every Conversation Matters: Shifting Conversations to Actions, reminds us that while talking about child safety is essential, real change happens when we take meaningful steps to create environments where children feel safe, valued and heard.

Why Does Child Protection Matter?

Children thrive when they feel protected and supported. Safe environments help them build strong relationships, learn effectively and grow with confidence. Everyone – parents, teachers, carers and community members – has a role to play in preventing harm and promoting wellbeing.

What Does This Look Like in Practice?

In classrooms, child protection means creating inclusive spaces where every child feels they belong. It involves teaching protective behaviours and emotional literacy, and embedding kindness, inclusion and respect into everyday routines.

At home, it means having open conversations with children about feelings, boundaries and safety. It’s about listening without judgment, encouraging children to speak up and modelling respectful relationships and positive problem-solving.

Together, we can ensure that every child not only feels safe – but is safe. Let’s continue to turn our care into action.

Creation changemakers: peace with creation

In a time when all of creation is calling for peace, I hope school communities around Australia will consider how they can be changemakers, starting with creating Gardens of Peace; sacred spaces to pray and act with creation. Let us turn our hearts and minds to the beauty of God’s gift and respond with hope and care.
Bishop Timothy Harris

Over the final two weeks of Term, Del Monte has proudly joined the Creation Changemakers initiative – an inspiring campaign led by Caritas Australia’s Catholic Earthcare program. This initiative encourages schools to take meaningful, faith-filled action for ecological and social justice during the Season of Creation, a global celebration of prayer and care for our planet that runs from 1 September to 4 October each year.

A Living Symbol of Hope

This year’s mission invites schools to cultivate a Garden of Peace – a living symbol of hope and harmony inspired by the 2025 Season of Creation theme, Peace with Creation. Whether it’s a flourishing garden, a patch of lawn, or a quiet classroom corner, these sacred spaces offer students and staff a place to pray, reflect and grow together in community.

Empowering Young Changemakers

The Creation Changemakers program is deeply rooted in our Catholic call to care for creation, as expressed in Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’. In this letter to all people, Pope Francis reminds us that the Earth is our common home – a sacred gift from God – and that caring for the environment is both a moral duty and a spiritual responsibility.

Students are encouraged to see themselves as active participants in shaping a better world. It invites them to live out their faith through action, compassion and stewardship – becoming changemakers who care for creation with love and purpose.

Together, through prayer, learning and action, we are nurturing a generation of changemakers committed to ecological justice, compassion and hope.

Curriculum update

Stay connected through learning moments

We encourage all families to visit the Learning Moments tile on your child’s grade homepage via Veritas Online. This space features regularly updated photos capturing student learning in action – offering a valuable window into classroom experiences.

To view the photos, simply click on the Learning Moments tile from your child’s grade homepage, then select the link to their class. These images can be a wonderful way to spark conversation at home, helping you ask specific questions about your child’s day and what they’ve been learning.

It’s a simple but meaningful way to stay connected with your child’s learning journey.

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