Chappy Neo - Inglewood State School

Inglewood's Secret Weapon? - The community shows up!

At Inglewood State School, much of my focus recently has been around restorative support & practices, and helping students regulate emotions. A large portion of my time at Inglewood is spent in 1:1 conversations with students, supporting them through challenges, helping them develop emotional regulation skills, and walking alongside those experiencing moments of difficulty.

One of the most rewarding parts of this work has been seeing students intentionally seek out connection. It’s become quite common now to have a group of students hanging around chappy before school or during break times, asking questions about life, chatting about their weekends, or just spending time together. Those simple conversations are often where the most meaningful growth happens!!!!

One example that stands out is a couple of girls who have been experiencing significant conflict and ongoing altercations. Through a combination of structured conversations and informal check-ins, things have shifted noticeably. These girls are now often playing handball together or sitting with our group at break times, rather than avoiding one another. Seeing those relationships move from conflict to shared space again has been incredibly SUPER DUPER encouraging!!!!

The Burpee Challenge has also been a big hit at Inglewood. Students have been trying to outdo my burpee count for the day HA! (top left), with some even committing to go home and complete their own 100 burpees in support of chaplaincy. Local businesses have also joined the fun, approaching me and asking for a round of burpees in exchange for a donation. Even teachers got involved (bottom right) Mr Byrnes jumped in to do 20 burpees alongside me, which the students thoroughly enjoyed!

I’d also like to give a special shoutout to several local businesses that have supported chaplaincy in meaningful ways.

- Albert Street Bakery has generously donated three loaves of fresh bread every Sunday for our youth group since we launched last year. The team regularly asks if the kids enjoyed the bread, which reflects their genuine care for the young people in the community

- Old Mate Meats has supported our youth group sausage sizzles by donating sausages, and recently contributed a generous donation toward the school’s chaplaincy support. In conversation, the owner expressed a strong passion for seeing young people in Inglewood impacted through discipleship and community support. One comment that stuck with me was:

“This is what discipleship is… my butchery is my church. People walk in, I feed them…not just with meat….and hopefully they walk out changed.”

- Kim from SPAR Inglewood (bottom left) also deserves recognition. SPAR employs students from the school and young adults from the community, and since our church plant last April has shown curiosity and openness about being part of the bigger picture of what’s happening in our church, school, and community!

It has been encouraging to see how schools, businesses, and community members are all playing a role in supporting young people across Inglewood.

It All Starts with a Sausage...

I’m STOKED with the way this term has begun, stepping into chaplaincy across four unique school communities where consistent, relational support (strengthened by trusted local partnerships) is already making a meaningful difference for students, staff and families navigating complex challenges!!

 At Inglewood SS, I have been regularly referred & in contact with high-risk and disengaged students, many of whom come from displaced families or trauma-impacted backgrounds. My support has centred on strengthening emotional regulation skills, sitting with students in the consequences of their behaviour and supporting them to process them constructively, stabilising situations during crisis moments, and building safe, consistent relational connections that provide a sense of security within the school environment.

I've been facilitating engaging, high-energy youth-style challenges and games for the high school cohort in the mornings before school. These activities have been well received and have created positive connection points at the start of the school. 

I continue to connect with many of the more vulnerable and disengaged students beyond school hours through YourChurch Inglewood’s Sunday arvo youth group, where we provide a sossie sizzle, games & activities, and community outreach in the park or at the pool, further strengthening relational continuity and positive engagement. The number of meaningful conversations in the community through our street-side bbq has been a huge highlight for me to see and to continue to expect as we make an impact in the town of Inglewood!

As we step into a new month, I’d love to invite you to partner with us again and make a donation! Your continued support for Inglewood keeps our school community strong and supported.