We commit to providing safe and supportive environments which nurture the wellbeing of all students and staff in our community, and hold firmly to the belief that they have a right to be safe, respected and valued in an inclusive environment. We know that when students are happy, they are more engaged with their learning.

Schools benefit from wellbeing initiatives and pastoral care support through Sydney Catholic Schools – in areas such as anti-bullying, positive behaviour, student counselling, refugee support and child protection – which range from universal support for all students, to targeted interventions for students with complex social and emotional needs.

At St Gabriel’s Catholic Primary School Bexley, student welfare is a shared responsibility between home, school and the community. The school has implemented programs to encourage positive social behaviours and problem solving skills. These programs include SPBL, Friendology, UR Strong, Buddies, Peer Support, Playground Assist, Student Awards and Environmental Stewardship.

Schoolwide Positive Behaviour for Learning (SPBL)

Schoolwide Positive Behaviour for Learning (SPBL) at St Gabriel’s encourages students to Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe and Be a Learner. Expectations encourage a safe, respectful and optimal learning environment that affirms the dignity of all students, staff and families.

StGabrielsCatholicPrimarySchoolBexley_Learning_LearrningApproach

Friendology
Friendology introduces students to the skills, language and strategies needed to build strong lasting friendships. Friendology gives students the ‘friendship framework’ with comprehensive, progressive lessons that serve as the starting point for embedding our school-wide friendship strategies. Friendology supports our Schoolwide Positive Behaviour for Learning framework.

Buddies
The care that our students demonstrate towards each other enhances the learning environment at St Gabriel’s Catholic Primary School. Children in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 have a senior buddy to care for and support them. A significant part of Year 6 leadership is the care for their younger buddy.

Student Health and Wellbeing
Our students are encouraged to play actively and creatively. Students are given the opportunity to represent the school at sporting events such as swimming, cross country, athletics, soccer, AFL, rugby union, tennis, cricket, netball, and basketball. The school has a healthy canteen that is open for lunch and recess on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout each term.

Anti-bullying policy

Sydney Catholic Schools rejects all forms of bullying behaviours, including online (or cyber) bullying, by maintaining a commitment to providing safe, inclusive and respectful learning communities that promote student wellbeing for learning. Staff at Sydney Catholic Schools are committed to employing wellbeing strategies that allow for a healthy school environment where bullying is less likely to occur.

If your child is experiencing bullying of any kind, or you have a wellbeing concern, we have a number of support services available for parents/carers and students, as listed below.

Support services: