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Wellbeing

Wellbeing at Moonee Ponds Primary

At Moonee Ponds Primary, wellbeing isn’t an add-on. It’s at the heart of everything we do. We believe that happy, safe, and connected students learn better, and we work hard to create an environment where every child feels known, respected, and supported. Through a range of structured programs and everyday practices, we nurture the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of every student from Foundation to Year 6.

  • Mindfulness

    Mindfulness is a valued part of how we support student wellbeing at Moonee Ponds Primary. Each week, students take part in a mindfulness session with their classroom teacher, drawing on the Smiling Mind and Mindful Schools curricula and practice mindfulness throughout the week. These sessions build attention, self-regulation, and empathy, with teachers reinforcing these practices throughout the week.

    Research shows that regular mindfulness practice can reduce stress and anxiety, build resilience, and improve concentration, relationships, and overall wellbeing. This work sits within our broader commitment to student empowerment, alongside approaches such as growth mindset and the zones of regulation.

  • Respectful Relationships

    We are committed to building a school community where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected. Our Respectful Relationships program takes a whole-school approach, weaving the values of respect, empathy, and inclusion into classroom learning, school culture, and community life.

    Each week, students from Foundation to Year 6 participate in lessons drawn from the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRRs) curriculum. Across eight topics including emotional literacy, personal strengths, positive coping, problem solving, and gender identity, students develop the knowledge and skills to build healthy relationships and navigate the world with confidence and care.

  • Buddy Program

    Our Buddy Program pairs every Year 5 and 6 student with a Foundation buddy for weekly activities throughout the year. It's one of the most loved programs in our school, building connection across year levels, developing empathy and leadership in our older students, and helping our youngest learners feel welcome and safe from their very first days. Based on the Alannah and Madeline Foundation Better Buddies Framework, this program helps students learn the values of caring for others, friendliness, respect, valuing difference, including others and responsibility.

  • Student Leadership

    We believe leadership is for everyone, and we work to create meaningful opportunities for students to develop their voice and make a positive difference in our community. Through the Student Representative Council (SRC), students from Years 1 to 6 are democratically elected by their classmates to represent their peers, attend weekly meetings, and contribute to school life in real and tangible ways. The SRC is led by our Year 6 School Captains, who also take on broader leadership responsibilities across the school alongside House Captains and Green Team leaders. Together, our student leaders embody our school values and inspire those around them.