Wellbeing in the Junior School

Pymble’s Mind-Body-Spirit Framework is a multi-dimensional, holistic approach to wellness and growth, encompassing academic, social, emotional and digital intelligence. Through the framework, girls gain the knowledge and skills to harness their inner strengths and make positive choices in life. Our vision is to support our girls to develop into influential and compassionate young women.

The Pymble Mind-Body-Spirit Program is underpinned by the CASEL Framework, providing a research- based foundation for the girls to develop essential social and emotional knowledge and skills to empower them grow in their learning and into the future. The girls connect daily with their teacher and peers to reflect, connect and develop in the key areas of self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, relationship skills and responsible decision making.

The Kindness focus in the Junior School strengthens the girls’ development of these vital skills. Girls are explicitly taught how to show kindness to themselves, to others and to our environment. This includes understanding the power and impact of our words, the importance of balance and down time and the responsibility to take care of our environment. All girls are encouraged to undertake small acts of kindness and service to make a positive difference to the world around them.

The girls are specifically taught social awareness and relationship skills through the URSTRONG program, learning the language and skills of friendship, empowering them to initiate and grow their friendships, manage conflict and understand how they deserve to be treated. Teachers use another evidence-based program, Kimochis, to equip our youngest students with an understanding of how to recognise, articulate and regulate her emotions, providing the foundation for resilience, reflection and self-awareness.

Across the Junior School, students are supported to develop resilience, self-worth and confidence in who she is by embracing challenge and engaging in activities such as Unstructured Play, House initiatives and our Buddy program, where every student in the Junior School has a buddy in another grade. In Unstructured Play sessions, students engage in risky play in naturing, using loose parts to collaborate, problem solve and think creatively. Riding bikes and scooters at lunchtime and playing in nature, develops important skills in responsible decision making.

Through the DREAM Diploma, our Year 5 and 6 students develop these skills through activities that are purposefully designed to develop their independence, character and life skills. Students set personal goals and work with determination and tenacity to achieve them, fostering the development of commitment, self-discipline and compassion.