Mental Health focus gives Wonga Beach school kids a powerful reset
MENTAL HEALTH WEEK
Replacing desk work with barefoot beach walks, group yoga, and paintbrushes, Wonga Beach State School launched the new term with a hands-on experiment in student wellbeing for Queensland Mental Health Week
The hands-on week was designed to give students and staff immediate, practical tools to slow down, build resilience, and recognise when it’s time to take a breather.
The school took a completely hands-on approach to mental health.
Moving past lecture-style advice, they paired physical activity and creative projects with healthy snacks to show how daily habits directly impact emotional wellbeing.
Principal Anita Cubit said these wellbeing activities tie directly into the school’s daily culture and long-term values.
“These mindfulness activities build directly on our ongoing Positive Behaviour for Learning framework, an initiative aimed at creating a safe, respectful environment across all year levels,” Mrs Cubit said.
“Whether it's moving our bodies, spending time outdoors, creating something together, eating well, or checking in with a friend, every step towards positive wellbeing counts.”
The school's dedicated work in this space recently earned it official status as a PBL Demonstration School, a benchmark driven largely by staff leader Hannah Hober.
By grounding these habits in daily school life, the school is ensuring its students learn how to navigate life's challenges well beyond the classroom.
