Sponsorship & Donations

In our post-Covid world so much has changed and none more so than the worlds of our children, a significant number of whom are f inding the school environment a bewildering, sometimes scary place. At St Peter’s Primary School, the Principals and teachers are facing this challenge head-on with passion and enthusiasm.

Their tireless efforts were recently recognised at the Bendigo Sports Star Awards (BSSA), where they were awarded the 2023 Fosterville Gold Mine Healthy Schools Award.

Tackling the aftermath of Covid

Co-Principal Jen Roberts, speaks frankly about the challenges that Covid has left in its wake: “What we are seeing is that many children have returned to school having missed two years of education, and more importantly, socialisation; so we’re finding children at Grade 4 still exhibiting behaviours we’d expect in Grade 2,” she explains.

Add to that, the lower socioeconomic backgrounds of many of the children at St Peter’s – some of whom are grappling with complex trauma – and it is no surprise that the children are struggling to learn.

“We are fortunate to have been part of a research project with La Trobe University for the past six years, so we had access to some excellent data to help us work out the areas in which we needed to put in extra effort,” said Jen.

“And through Catholic Education Sandhurst, we also started a Behaviour Support Team with advice from a behavioural analyst in the USA; both of these initiatives provided the basis upon which we worked out the supports needed,” she continued.

Since then, the school teaching staff have worked collaboratively to introduce a long list of supports and programs aimed at not only supporting the students while at school, but also recognising their home life challenges and offering support there too.

“There’s so many complex things that we’re dealing with on a regular basis, that it requires a holistic view and that’s what we’ve got here at St Peter’s,” says Coprincipal, Jeremy Darmody.

“It could be as simple as making sure kids have something to eat before they start their school day, to running Mental Health Month program which teaches children about the “Five ways to wellbeing”; signing families in need up to the “One Box” Food Share program and helping children regulate their emotions with our wellbeing dogs, Lexi and Oreo,” he enthuses.

And support for teachers is also a must! With teacher burnout a major concern, the school has introduced a “Reflective Circles” activity which enables staff to share their challenges and support one another on a regular basis.

Recognition is a reward in itself

“The news that St Peter’s had won the BSSA Healthy School’s award was a wonderful recognition of all the hard work and dedication that has gone into making St Peters the best it can be for our students, however, the $3,000 prize, was the cherry on top,” said Lauren White, Sustainability Coordinator at St Peter’s.

“Fosterville is thrilled to have been able to support St Peter’s through the Healthy Schools Award and congratulates the team at St Peter’s for the care and passion that they put into their work each day,” said Lance Faulkner, General Manager of FGM.