Student Wellbeing

2018 has been a year of Review, Keep, Try, Change for the Wellbeing Team’s in both the Senior and Preparatory Schools 

For the first 9 months, the focus has been on data collection - data collected has included:

• Prep School Kids Matter survey (K – 6) in March;
• Rite Journey survey of Year 9 students (pre- survey in March to be followed-up by a post survey once the course has finished in 2019);
• Senior School Wellbeing Survey in September 2018;
• Visits to individual Tutor groups across all year groups in the Senior School and individual classrooms in the Prep School.

The Wellbeing Teams in both the Prep and Senior School, then collectively used this data to determine the Wellbeing Strategic Objectives that will underpin our new KWS Strategic Plan, with a goal to effectively translate strategy into action.

In The Prep School most matters of student care and welfare are dealt with through the classroom teacher; they are in effect the pastoral care leader. The students participate in a number of specific wellbeing activities such as Peer Support and specific Social Emotional Learning lessons that occur once a week. Survey data clearly demonstrates that the vast majority of KWS Prep Students feel happy, connected and safe at our school.

In the Senior School our eight Tutor Houses form the basis for student welfare and behaviour management within the school. Our survey results demonstrate that overwhelmingly the House based nature of our Wellbeing Program is viewed positively by students as they clearly identified with their House and for the most part their Head Tutor and Tutor. However, the experience each student receives is based on the individual Head Tutor and Tutor teacher. The key areas of concern identified from the survey by staff and students included:

• Increasing number of students presenting with anxiety and depression concerns.
• Tutor program lacks consistency and depth.
• 20 minute Tutor - too short to be effective but too long for simple roll call.

After reviewing all the data a number of changes will be implemented to maximise student wellbeing in a safe, supportive and connected learning community. From 2019 the following changes will be implemented:

• Structured Wellbeing Scope and Sequence for each year group (K - 12).
• Targeted programs in the areas of resilience and mental health.

In the Senior School specific changes will include:

• Changed Tutor format for 2019. Instead of 4 x 20 minute Tutor sessions, we will now have 2 x 35 minute sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• Tutor time - name change to Wellbeing time.
• Head Tutors will be called Head of ‘Name’ House ie Head of Brown House.
• Individual tutors will be termed Mentors.

Our school will have an evidence-based, planned approach to wellbeing that uses the Federal Governments National Safe School Framework to inform our focus and practice. Finally, I would like to leave you with our Wellbeing Team mantra.

‘Wellbeing is a collective responsibility. If we get Wellbeing right everything else gets easier’.

Mrs Emma Bylsma

Head of Student Wellbeing