Staff Wellbeing
Staff wellbeing at work is a priority for Leichhardt State School. We are grateful to serve this community and make a positive difference in students' lives. We strive to be the best educators and acknowledge the importance of good health and wellbeing to do our jobs well.
Leichhardt State School has a Wellbeing Committee that meets every second Wednesday afternoon. The function of the Wellbeing Committee is to plan and action opportunities for staff to come together as a team with the aim of increasing morale, enhancing relationships and improving physical and mental health. Staff Wellbeing activities include morning teas that support yearly celebrations, weekly 'Shout Outs' on the 'Shout Out' boards, year level rostered provision of snacks at staff meetings, twice a term staff acknowledgement for demonstration of a specific Leichhardt State School value and a planned staff function each term. The Wellbeing Committee value and encourage the input from all staff members and complete regular surveys to determine staff wellbeing needs, make recommendations for future wellbeing activities, feedback on the success of previous wellbeing activities and suggest how to improve future activities. As well as the yearly staff opinion survey, an external provider is engaged in Term 4 of each year to complete a 'work survey' as another means to determine staff wellbeing needs around psychosocial needs.
Student Wellbeing
Student wellbeing is one of the priorities for Leichhardt State School due to the impact it has on student learning outcomes. We believe that all students at Leichhardt have the right to feel safe and enjoy learning.
Student wellbeing is addressed through the Leichhardt State School's Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) program. Each morning all students engage with PBL lessons that teach school values (Gratitude, Teamwork, Respect and Perseverance) and expectations (we are kind, we are safe, we are learners). Staff strategically use learning and play opportunities to explicitly model expected behaviours and offer feedback on students' demonstration of these values and expectations.
Students have access to areas within the school where they can feel safe and supported with their own individual needs. We have the sanctuary, Deadly room, Guidance room, Wellbeing room and Forest School when students learn through inquiry based learning.
To support student wellbeing, the PBL Team organises Body, Mind, Character Days once a term with extra-curricular activities for students. Students are encouraged to perform on assemblies and join the Deadly Dancers group who have performed in many different contexts.
Staff model the School's values and expectations in all aspects of daily school life and actively support students to feel safe, secure, valued and heard in order for them to be kind, safe and learners.