Year 11 Pastoral Guardian

Dear Parents/Caregivers, 

I would encourage you this week and even on the holidays to pour a cup of herbal tea, find a relaxing corner and delve deep into this week’s SchoolTV on the topics of Raising Girls and Happiness and Gratitude.  As well as being a Pastoral Guardian caring and supporting your young adults in Year 11, I am a parent too.  

I really enjoyed this week’s topics with a wealth of well researched resources, video interviews with specialists, articles, fact sheets and a quick affirming quiz. In particular, the section 'What do daughters want from parents?' uncovered hints such as listening to young people’s opinions, connections between fathers and daughters, female mentors, promoting healthy habits, mindfulness and keeping lines of communication open. 

Roger Duncan as a Dad in Raising girls to apply grit, confidence and courage, encouraged parents to give opportunities for young people to be self-advocates by “nurturing skills of persuasion” and when children are making requests, reflecting not just on what but how. These negotiation skills are important when preparing adolescents for the adult world - in which our Year 11 students are edging closer to. 

The Happiness, Positive Psychology and Gratitude topic is well worth visiting as it supports school initiatives in our Wellbeing Program. In a video interview on SchoolTV, Dr Lucy Hone, Director of NZ Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience shared global research evidence that by using a Wellbeing Curriculum that “explicitly teaches strengths, growth mindset, flexible and resilient thinking and mindfulness leads to “increased levels of 

well-being and better academic results”. Supporting this research, Professor Lea Waters addressed Positive Psychology claiming, “when students have high mental health and wellbeing, they are able to think more clearly, are more motivated, have goals and aspirations”. The ‘intentional and strategic’ design of wellbeing programs that teach skills of ‘resilience, happiness and hope’ lead to improved academic outcomes. This research supports a webinar The Science of Achievement by Geelong Grammar Institute of Positive Education I attended this week that focussed on the relationship of engagement and passion for learning with achievement emphasising the important message that “accomplishment is a domain of wellbeing”. 

Authentic happiness, engagement, meaningful learning, growth mindsets and neuroplasticity, grit, perseverance, Hope Theory and self-regulation strategies were presented. Interestingly, Year 12 Pastoral Guardian Bridget Piper and I recently presented on Student Wellbeing from Theory to Practice at the Inclusive Education Network Day, sharing the framework that informs our own school context. In our pastoral roles, these approaches are actioned daily. 

As our 2021 year draws to a close, I want to congratulate every Year 11 student for a year of personal growth, achievement of goals, resilience in overcoming challenges, support for one another and a delightful spirit. I enjoy sharing with you some favourite photos of our happy, healthy Year 11s from throughout the year. 

Have a blessed Christmas as families and I look forward to the final year of our journey together in 2022 as your young adult becomes a Senior at Mount Alvernia College.