Communication

School Counsellor

As part of the pastoral care program for students, St Anthony’s School has access to a Student and Family Counselling service provided by CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn (CCG). CCG are contracted by St Anthony’s School to provide a counselling service to students and their families on-site. There is no fee to access this service.

The role of the counsellor is to focus on the emotional, social and educational well-being of the students. Counsellors welcome contact with students having difficulty with some part of their life, whether or not it affects their school work. The problem does not have to be a big one. It is better to seek help sooner than later. Some typical concerns that counsellors work with include: anger, anxiety, behavioural problems, depression, eating problems, family breakdown and family conflict, grief and loss, learning and educational challenges, parenting challenges, peer and other social relationships, school avoidance, stress and study skills. As well as individual sessions with students, counsellors do family work, consult with parents and teachers and make referrals to other services and supports.

Student and Family Counsellors subscribe to a set of professional ethics that include a duty of care and respect for the individual rights to privacy and confidentiality. The counsellors’ obligation is to ensure the safety, wellbeing and confidentiality of the student they are working with. All counsellors are mandated to report any disclosure or sign of abuse (including self-harm) or neglect to Child Protection Services. Outside of our mandated requirements, all counselling sessions are confidential, and the details will not be discussed with other parties unless written consent is given by the client.

St Anthony’s Primary School has one school counsellor, Mrs Patience Way.

Referrals and requests can be made by completing the online referral form.

Reporting

Formal reports on student progress will be sent home towards the end of Semester 1 and Semester 2 each year. In addition, you will be given the opportunity to attend Parent/Teacher Interviews or 3 Way Conferences throughout the year.

• Written reports, interviews/conferences and samples of students' work. Early in the school year, parents will be given the opportunity to meet their child's teacher and familiarise themselves with the class routines and curricula.
• Parent-Teacher interviews involve parents, the student and the teacher and are held during the year. Written reports are provided in Terms Two and Four.
• Interviews with class teachers may be arranged before or after school hours, by emailing or sending a message to your child's teacher using the dojo app.  The Principal is available by appointment only. Parents can be assured of the principal's interest in any aspect of school life that is of concern.

Contact with the School 

Parents are always welcome to make an appointment to speak to the Principal, Assistant Principal, Learning Support (Special Needs) teacher or class teachers. It has been our experience that, when free and open communication is maintained, any perceived problems are more readily resolved.

The school secretaries can arrange an appointment with the Principal or Assistant Principal at a time convenient to both parties.

Appointments to see one of the teachers should be made for out of teaching hours, which are before 9:00am or after 3:30pm, and can be done via a note, or by contacting the teacher directly.