Our values at Living Faith are Compassion, Doing Your Best, Forgiveness, Respect, Responsibility and Teamwork. These values underpin relational management within the school setting. Through scheduled Pastoral Care time we teach and discuss different ways students can show and live out their values to the school community and beyond. As we head into Term 3 our focus is on:

● Teamwork: we encourage all students to participate in group activities and cooperate with others. Students benefit most when there is a strong partnership between themselves, their peers, teachers and their families.
● Compassion: we show care, support and kindness by what we say and do by supporting and serving others regardless of their personal beliefs, abilities, behaviour or circumstances.

These values are woven into the fabric of the school through the different ways year levels collaborate and show these values within their lives.

● Prep has a special story time each week where a member of the Leadership team visits and reads to them a story relating to the focus value.

● Year 2 has a ‘Teamwork Bucket’ which gets filled with ping pong balls every time a student displays teamwork. Once the bucket is filled, they all celebrate their success with a whole year level celebration, such as a dance party or a special free play time in the Nature Area.

● Year 4 shows compassion through a kindness box. Students are encouraged to write something kind to another class member and place the note in the box. It doesn’t need to have who it’s from. Throughout the week teachers will share the notes with the class and read out what they love about this person. Students then get to keep their message.

Showing and living out our values is not just about embedding it in the lives of our students but also ourselves as staff. One way we show compassion to one another is through having individual staff pockets in our Staff Lounge. These are created for staff to leave a kind word of encouragement, or perhaps a small gift to brighten someone's day that may need it or because we want to highlight their God given strengths and talents. Perhaps ask your child, how do they show teamwork and compassion at school or in your home.

Chelsea Formosa
Director of Junior Primary