Mentoring
All students at Norwood Secondary College participate in the mentoring program. It is a weekly session with your class and mentor teacher, which is designed to help you feel more connected to your school, teachers, and peers, while developing skills that support your success.
What is mentoring?
Mentoring sessions are a 60-minute time slot set aside each week for your class to meet with your mentor teacher who is there to support you in all aspects of life at Norwood. During these sessions, you’ll work on setting personal and academic goals, building study skills, and learning ways to manage stress and stay positive. It’s a program that’s all about helping you grow and succeed in high school and beyond.
What is mentoring used for?
- Wellbeing and connection: Activities and discussions that focus on wellbeing with topics like mindfulness, positive thinking, and resilience. These activities aim to help you manage challenges and build confidence. This time also strengthens your connection to your class and to your mentor teacher.
- Setting goals: Your mentor will offer support in identifying goals for yourself both in and outside of school. You’ll also learn strategies for organising your time, managing schoolwork, and improving study skills, all of which can make your high school experience more successful.
- Assemblies and other gatherings: Assemblies will be held during some mentoring sessions, providing an opportunity for year levels to gather and discuss upcoming events, concerns and to recognise student achievement.
- Building literacy: Mentoring sessions each start with silent reading of a text of your choice. This quiet reading time is a chance to immerse yourself in something you enjoy and strengthen your literacy skills.
What does your mentor teacher do?
Your mentor teacher is there to guide and support you throughout high school. They’re someone you can check in with regularly about your goals, any challenges you’re facing, and ways to stay organised and motivated. They’ll offer tips for managing schoolwork, help you develop strategies for success, and provide a safe space to talk about anything you need. Whether it’s improving your study habits or just having someone to listen, your mentor teacher is a key part of your support network at Norwood.
A community of support
The mentoring program is all about giving you the support, skills, and confidence to thrive at school and beyond. Alongside your mentor teacher, Norwood has a team of supportive staff including Year Level Coordinators, Heads of Year Level and the Student Wellbeing team. Everyone is here to help you succeed and make high school a positive experience.