It’s a real privilege to be the Chaplain at Halidon Primary School! When people ask me what it is exactly that I do, I like to tell them I have the best job in the school! I have the opportunity to be a 'safe person' in the school, who kids are comfortable to chat with. To be able to journey with kids through their primary school years, helping them when things are tough but also celebrate the little things along the way. It may be dealing with things like anxiety, grief and loss, bullying, changes at home or friendship issues, just to name a few.

 

We have a great space within our school that I work out of – the BOOM Box! The BOOM Box is a place of Belonging and Openness, an Oasis (safe place) that Motivates social and emotional well-being. Each term, every year level has the opportunity to come in at lunch time to play on the Wii, play board games, read, colour or just sit and chat. The students really look forward to their turn! I also meet with groups of students from time to time, generally focussing on friendship skills and emotional regulation.

Another way I support the students at Halidon Primary School is running BUZ programs in classes. There are a number of age-appropriate programs from pre-primary to year 6, along with a grief and loss program and a playground leadership and peer mediation program. Each program helps students develop important life skills by addressing self concept and self respect, communication skills, cooperation and friendship skills, emotional competence, resilience, anger management, conflict resolution and bully proofing.

I am at school on Tuesdays and Fridays and my door is always open if you’d like to come and have a chat – sometimes just having someone to chat things through with can make all the difference! If you would like your child to receive support through our Chaplaincy program, please speak to their teacher or drop in and see me.

 

Leonie Lupton

HPS Chaplain