Responsibility means doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. It’s about taking ownership of your actions — like packing up after yourself, caring for shared spaces, and leaving things ready for the next person.
This week, you might like to invite students to create or say their own Acknowledgement of Country.
Using the sentence starters below, students can reflect on what they are thankful for, the promise they wish to make, and what they value about Dja Dja Wurrung Country. This helps make the Acknowledgement personal, respectful, and meaningful.
We would like to acknowledge the Jaara people, the traditional custodians of the land on which we are meeting today, we acknowledge ancestors and elders past, present and emerging and commit ourselves to work actively for reconciliation and justice.
We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land we are on today, the Dja Dja Wurrung people.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and future.
We thank them for ______________________________________.
Today, we promise to ____________________________________.
We are grateful to walk, learn, and play on this ______________________ land.
Here are some examples you might use:
Thanking them for: sharing their knowledge, caring for Country, welcoming us
Promise to: care for the land, learn about culture, treat nature with respect, invite all with open arms, help others who come to this country/land
Describe the land as: special, sacred, strong, beautiful, ancient, peaceful, friendly, open
Junior Acknowledgement of Country
Here is the Land, here is the Sky, here are my friends, and here am I.
We play today on traditional Land, Our First Nation people, we walk hand in hand.
We’d like to say thank you for letting us share the Land that you love. We promise to take care.
A quiet moment to pause, breathe, and bring our hearts and minds into God’s presence, preparing ourselves to pray with focus, gratitude, and openness.
(Inhale) Lord, prepare my heart…
(Exhale) …to walk in Your love.
(Inhale) Fill me with patience…
(Exhale) …and a spirit of readiness.
(Inhale) Help me to listen…
(Exhale) …and respond with kindness.
(Inhale) Guide my steps…
(Exhale) …as I prepare to serve.
Amen.
A quiet moment to pause, listen, and open our hearts to God, allowing His presence to guide our thoughts, deepen our faith, and inspire us to live with love and kindness.
Genesis 1:31 (CEV)
“God looked at what he had done. All of it was very good!”
Everything God made—land, water, plants, animals, people—was good and beautiful.
Genesis 2:15 (CEV)
“The Lord God put the man in the Garden of Eden to take care of it and to look after it.”
God gave humans the responsibility to care for the Earth.
Psalm 24:1 (NIV)
“The Earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”
The Earth doesn’t belong to us—it belongs to God, and we are caretakers of it.
Psalm 104:24 (NIRV)
“Lord, you have made so many things! How wise you were when you made all of them. The Earth is full of your creatures.”
God made the world with wisdom and filled it with living things.
Proverbs 12:10 (NIRV)
“Those who do what is right take good care of their animals.”
Even animals are part of God’s creation and deserve kindness.
These verses show us that God made the world with love and care. He filled it with beauty, animals, people, and life—and He called it good. God invites us to be caretakers of this gift. That means protecting nature, being kind to animals, and making good choices for our Earth. The Bible teaches that the world belongs to God, not us, so we are to treat it with respect.
When we care for the environment, we are saying thank you to God for His creation. Picking up rubbish, saving water, planting trees, and protecting animals are all ways we live out what the Bible teaches. God didn’t just make nature to be pretty—He made it for us to enjoy, share, and take care of. Caring for creation is not just a good idea—it’s a holy responsibility.
Reflection Questions:
What is your favourite thing in nature that God made? Why?
How can we show God we’re thankful for the world He made?
What are some ways we can care for animals and plants?
If the Earth belongs to God, how should we treat it?
Can you think of one thing you can do this week to care for God’s creation?
A moment to open our hearts to God, whether in asking for guidance, strength, and help or in giving thanks for His blessings, love, and presence in our lives.
Thanksgiving prompts
Thank You, God, for giving me…
Thank You, God, for helping me…
Thank You, God, for the people who…
Thank You, God, for the beauty of…
Thank You, God, for the lessons I learn when…
Thank You, God, for always…
Thank You, God, for the moments when…
Thank You, God, for the strength to…
Thank You, God, for Your love that…
Thank You, God, for the joy of…
Asking prompts
Please, God, help me to…
Please, God, give me the courage to…
Please, God, guide me when…
Please, God, help me to be more…
Please, God, show me how to…
Please, God, help me to forgive…
Please, God, remind me to…
Please, God, be with me when…
Please, God, give me the wisdom to…
Please, God, teach me to…
Regular prayers
God, please watch over and heal those who are sick, especially…
I am thankful for the love and support of my family and friends, especially…
Lord, help those who are feeling lonely or sad to know they are loved, including…
God, please give strength and courage to people who are facing difficult times, such as…
Thank you for the beauty of creation and the many blessings in my life, like…
Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Dear God,
Thank You for the beautiful world You made —
the trees, the animals, the sky, and the sea.
Help us to take care of everything You created.
Show us how to be gentle, to use only what we need,
and to always think of others — people, plants, and creatures too.
Help us to love the Earth like You do.
Amen.
The Aboriginal Our Father is a version of the traditional Christian Lord’s Prayer expressed through the language, imagery, and spirituality of Aboriginal culture.
The Aboriginal Our Father reminds us that:
God is close – like the land we walk on and the sky above us.
Forgiveness and peace are part of walking together.
We are called to live in respect, balance, and care for one another and the earth.
Father,
We believe that St Kilian’s School is a great place to learn and have fun.
We trust our school community will continue to welcome new members and will always help
and care for each other.
We thank you for the love and respect of our families, teachers and friends.
With Jesus as our model, may we grow to be the best people we can.
Amen.
‘Ready in Five’ is a consistent teacher prompt used to gain students' full attention before giving instructions or starting a lesson.
The teacher stands in a central position, counts down from five while scanning the room, and waits for 100% of students to respond and make eye contact. It teaches students to stop, look, and listen, creating a calm and focused transition into learning.
The Classroom Entry Routine sets clear expectations for how students enter the room after breaks or transitions.
Students line up in pairs, enter quietly, stand or sit in their spot, and wait with eyes on the teacher before being greeted and seated. It promotes calm, safe, and respectful beginnings to lessons, helping students settle quickly for learning.
The Classroom Exit Routine guides students in leaving the room calmly and respectfully at the end of a lesson or day.
Students pack up quietly, stand behind their desks, respond to the teacher's farewell, and are dismissed row by row. It ensures a smooth and safe transition, reinforcing gratitude, order, and readiness for what comes next.
This week, our Positive Behaviour Blitz at school is all about “Leave No Trace.” We are learning the importance of being respectful, responsible, and safe in how we treat our belongings in the classroom and on the yard.
Leave No Trace means showing care for our environment, shared spaces, and each other by making sure we don’t leave mess, damage, or harm behind. It reminds us to respect the places we learn and play in and leave them as we found them—or even better.
This connects to our school values:
Respectful – We treat all spaces with care.
Example: We walk around plants and artworks instead of stepping on or over them.
Safe – We keep areas clean and clear so everyone can use them safely.
Example: We put away sports equipment and pick up rubbish so others don’t trip or slip.
Responsible – We take ownership of our own mess and help others do the same.
Example: We tidy our workspace, push in our chairs, and pack up shared materials even if we didn’t use them.
By living these values, we show that we care for our school, our environment, and our community.
Respectful:
How do I show respect for our classroom space and the people who use it after me?
Do I treat our books, furniture, and materials with care?
Responsible:
Do I pack up my things and clean up my space when I finish an activity?
What can I do if I see a mess that isn’t mine?
Safe:
How does keeping the classroom tidy help keep everyone safe?
Do I leave the space clear so others don’t trip or get hurt?
Respectful:
How do I show respect for nature, like plants, trees, and animals in our yard?
Do I leave shared equipment and spaces ready for the next person?
Responsible:
Do I put my rubbish in the bin or pick it up if I see it?
Do I play in the right areas and use equipment properly?
Safe:
How do I make sure the yard is clean and safe for everyone to enjoy?
Do I let a teacher know if I see something unsafe?
This week, our Positive Behaviour Blitz at school is all about “Leave No Trace.” We are learning the importance of being respectful, responsible, and safe in how we treat our belongings in the classroom and on the yard.
This week, we’re going to try something new with the playground!
We’ve noticed that not many students are using the playground, and we want to make sure everyone gets a fair chance to enjoy it. So, in Week 9, we’ll be trying out a Playground Roster that shows which year levels can use the playground at recess and lunch each day.
The goal is to make sure everyone gets time on the equipment, has fun, and plays safely with others. Prep–2 students will also get extra time during class to use the playground to practise important skills like turn-taking, sharing, and moving safely.
Let’s give it a go together—and remember to be respectful, fair, and kind while using the space!
Did you enjoy using the playground during your rostered time? Why or why not?
How did it feel to take turns and share the space with your classmates?
Was there anything that made it hard to enjoy the playground? What could we do to fix that?
Did the roster help more people have a turn on the playground?
What’s one thing you think we could change or keep for next time?