Pastoral Care and Wellbeing
Commendations
How often are you checking into PAM? If you require assistance or your password information, please contact us at St. Joseph’s. PAM enables you to check your student’s general progress, and you can also see if your student has received any Commendations - these are incredibly significant and should be celebrated!
If we can assist any further, please let us know!
Learning Mentor Contact
If you have been unable to meet with your student’s Learning Mentor so far this Term, please make contact with them to check in and organise contact if needed. We encourage you to discuss with your child their progress so far, any assistance and support we can offer, and their goals and plans for the 2021 school year, and relay this to their Learning Mentor, particularly as the end of Term 1 is quickly approaching.
Our Mobile Phone Procedure for 2021!
It is important to note that we have written about our Mobile Phone procedure since Term 4 last year, and the majority of students have adapted and complied with the new procedure. Students and staff have definitely noticed the difference this has made in our school, which is fantastic!
I have included the procedure here again so you can discuss this with your student and ensure they continue to be aware of the benefits and consequences of this. This has been a focus in House Assemblies and LM time this term also, and is reiterated throughout the school in classes and in the yard.
It is important to note that communication can continue to be made to your student via the Front Office.
A reminder of our procedural steps:
- Students will be required to hand their phone to the staff member who will take it to the Front Office for collection at the end of the day. (This is to be behaviour tracked and documented.)
- Should this occur a second time, the phone will again be removed to the Front Office for collection at the end of the day, and parents/guardians will be contacted. (This is to be behaviour tracked and documented.)
- If this occurs a third time, the parents/guardians will be required to collect the phone from the Front Office. (This is to be behaviour tracked and documented.)
- If a fourth transgression occurs, the phone will again be confiscated and a meeting will be held with the student, parents/guardians and House Leader.
This change is to support our students in their learning by reducing distractions, conflict and antisocial behaviour and enabling proper processes and guidelines to be implemented and followed. It also encourages focus and greater awareness, improves communication and positive prosocial behaviours and encourages less reliance on our phones and social media, allowing us to be more present. This will also support greater care for devices, resulting in less opportunities for damage, loss or theft.
We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our students and parents for supporting this initiative and embracing the new expectations so positively. We are already noticing a significant difference in student interactions and behaviours.
Surviving the Final Year
SchoolTV has some fantastic resources to support students and their families in navigating the final year of Secondary School. The information covers everything from exam jitters and how to combat them, through to self-care during this final year, and the challenges and opportunities it provides.
This information can be easily located at:
https://sje.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/surviving-final-year
We continue to provide access to SchoolTV and the wonderful resources and information that are imperative in supporting parents, families and students as we work together to navigate challenges, and celebrate successes, joys and milestones.
Please check out our SchoolTV by using the link below.
We would love your feedback!
If you have accessed SchoolTV and benefited from any of the resources and information available, please let us know at wellbeing@sje.vic.edu.au
Best wishes for a wonderful Term 1 and Easter break.
A reminder of some supports you can access during this time if needed are:
Immediate Support:
Mental Health Triage 1300 363 788 VIC residents
Mental Health Triage 1800 011 511 NSW residents (Accessline)
Lifeline 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au
Local Support
Through an appointment with your GP (doctor), you are able to obtain a care plan which provides you with a minimum of six heavily subsidised appointments with a private practitioner.
Support Lines and Websites:
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 https://www.beyondblue.org.au
Headspace 1800 650 890 https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/connect-with-a-clinician/
Online Chats:
Beyond Blue 3pm-12am https://online.beyondblue.org.au
Headspace https://headspace.org.au/log-in/?redirect=%2Fmy-account%2F
Rach Chapman
Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Leader