Our Therapy Dog program features Lionel, a gentle and friendly canine companion, who brings comfort, support, and emotional wellbeing to students in our school. Lionel helps create a calming atmosphere, offering a sense of security and emotional relief, especially during stressful moments. Whether it's joining in on the learning in classrooms, one-on-one sessions, or group activities, Lionel serves as a non-judgmental friend, helping students improve focus, manage feelings and enhance overall mood.
Having Lionel in the school also encourages positive social interaction, empathy, and responsibility among students, as they learn how to care for and interact with their furry friend. This program fosters a warm, supportive environment where students feel safe and valued, contributing to their emotional and social development. With Lionel’s gentle presence, students have a trusted companion to turn to, helping them feel more connected, calm, and ready to learn.
At Balwyn North Primary School, Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) is at the heart of our school culture, fostering a positive and inclusive environment where every student can thrive. Our PBL approach encourages students to demonstrate key behaviours linked to our school values – Strive, Inspire, Belong - both inside and outside the classroom. By setting clear expectations and consistently reinforcing positive actions, we help students develop the skills they need to become motivated, independent learners.
Through PBL, students learn how to make responsible choices, work collaboratively with others, and approach challenges with a growth mindset. Teachers and staff model and reinforce these behaviours, creating a safe and supportive space where students feel valued and empowered.
At Balwyn North Primary, we believe in celebrating achievements, big and small, and creating a school community where striving, inspiring and belonging are foundational. By nurturing positive behaviours, we equip students with the tools they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally, both in school and in their future endeavours.
Respectful Relationships education is a core component of the Victorian Curriculum and is all about embedding a culture of respect and equality across the entire school community. At Balwyn North Primary School we promote and model respect, positive attitudes and behaviours and support our children by providing strategies on how to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence.
Our teachers use their experience and knowledge to collaboratively plan and deliver respectful relationships education in the most suitable way for their students. We refer to the Department of Education? initiative ‘Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships’ which covers a range of social and emotional learning topics to support the delivery of respectful relationships content through the Victorian curriculum.
Our small group Social and Emotional Learning programs provide focused, supportive opportunities for students to explore and develop their social and emotional skills in small, interactive group settings. These programs are designed to help students enhance self-awareness, manage emotions, build positive relationships, and strengthen communication skills. Through engaging activities, role-playing, and guided discussions, students gain a deeper understanding of their emotions and learn strategies for navigating social interactions in a healthy, constructive way.
Offered to students on an as needs basis, the small group setting allows for personalised support, fostering a sense of trust and team spirit, where students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences. With the guidance of our Social and Emotional Teacher and Inclusion Learning Specialist, students practice key social and emotional skills, such as conflict resolution, empathy, and emotional regulation, helping them feel more confident in their social interactions and better equipped to handle challenges. These programs not only supports students' emotional well-being but also builds stronger connections between peers, creating a positive and inclusive school environment.
Peaceful Kids is a weekly small-group wellbeing program offered at Balwyn North Primary School. The program gives children the skills, practice, and support to utilise coping strategies that help build emotional resilience so they are better equipped to deal with life's day-to-day challenges. Throughout the 8-week program, children learn a range of mindfulness strategies and participate in a range of activities to help them understand their emotions. The program is also a great chance for children to connect with other peers and teachers.
For more information, visit the Peaceful Kids website.
Our primary school is proud to collaborate with local professionals, including a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, and psychologist, who work closely with students, teachers, and families to provide comprehensive support for academic and emotional growth.
The speech pathologist assists students with communication and language challenges, offering support in both small group and whole-class settings. By working alongside teachers, the speech pathologist helps ensure that all students, regardless of their communication needs, can participate confidently in classroom activities and engage meaningfully with their peers. The occupational therapist supports students by focusing on motor skills, sensory processing, and daily life skills. Whether working with small groups, or providing classroom-wide strategies, the occupational therapist helps improve fine motor skills, organisation, and focus, enabling students to thrive in their learning environments.
The psychologist provides support through small group and whole-class sessions, addressing emotional and behavioural needs. Through their work with teachers, they help create a supportive classroom environment, offering strategies to manage stress, build resilience, and navigate social situations.
By collaborating with teachers and working in both small group and whole-class settings, these local professionals ensure that students receive support, fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment where all students can reach their full potential.
At Balwyn North Primary, we are committed to educating our students about appropriate and safe online behaviours, so they are better equipped to protect their own wellbeing. In class, children engage in regular cyber safety discussions and have the chance to experience the many educational opportunities that the Internet has to offer in a safe and supported manner. At Balwyn North Primary, we collect and review data on cyber safety concerns on a regular basis, to support our students to safely navigate the online world. A focus on developing the skills necessary for children to be able to create and use information in a perceptive, effective and creative way is of high value to us. We believe that explicitly teaching students about safe and responsible online behaviour is essential. Students use ICT as a routine part of classroom activities across the curriculum.
Parents can learn more about Cyber Safety at the following Government sites: