Pastoral Care
"We have to nourish in order to flourish"
— anon.
We are now well into Term 2 and it is a busy time - with music recitals, subject selection, sports and plenty of homework and assessments. One of the key things to support a busy lifestyle is learning how to manage these commitments. As highlighted regularly in Pastoral Care, using a term planner where significant events and assessments are recorded is good to have in a visible place in a student’s room to keep track of these activities. In addition, using a weekly planner that is mapped out at the start of the week helps to keep oversight of one’s commitments each week. Using a daily to-do-list also helps to remind students of their daily tasks and to prioritise these. Resources for these planners can be found on the student canva page, all of which parents can join as an observer to see.
The study skills handbook to which Mrs Quirk refers to in her weekly welcome also provides excellent resources to support in student organisation.
Managing wellbeing
As we navigate the complexities of one’s busy life as a teenager, the importance of managing mental health becomes increasingly necessary. It is important to build resilience and develop strategies to nurture well-being. We have been exploring ways to cultivate resilience, seeking and using support networks, and reframing challenges as opportunities for growth.
Mental health conversations and strategies
Some strategies explored this term in Pastoral Care include the discussion of the mental health continuum, so students are taking ownership of their feelings, and reminders of when to reach out. We have also been exploring how to undertake mental health conversations with others, using the format proposed by RUOK. to encourage girls to open dialogue with their peers. In pastoral care, students have also been reflecting on strategies to manage their own stressors. Some of these include The 5 Senses Strategy, the Alphabet Strategy and Box Breathing to name a few. It is important to recognise when we need to reflect, take a break and employ these strategies to rise above challenges. Through resilience, we not only weather life's storms but emerge stronger and more capable.
Self Care
Amidst life's demands self-care often takes a backseat. We encourage you to support your daughters in prioritising self-care as an essential component of mental health maintenance. Whether it's carving out time for hobbies, practising relaxation techniques, and disconnecting from screens, small acts of self-care can yield significant benefits for overall well-being.
Kidman Centre UTS
The Kidman Centre, who presented to Year 12 earlier this term on managing HSC stress are running a number of other parent workshops.The Kidman Centre UTS is a clinical treatment unit dedicated to understanding, preventing, and reducing mental health issues in young people.
Workshop 1: Tuning into Teens: A Deep Dive into Emotion Coaching
What will be covered: This workshop will utilise Emotion Coaching (The Gottman Institute) principles to help you listen more effectively, teach teenagers about their emotions and set a framework to problem solve big emotions together. The forms the skills needed to develop individual self-regulation skills.
When: Tuesday 4th June (6-7pm)
Where: Zoom (link to be emailed the week before)
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Workshop 2: Calming the Storm: Empowering Parents to Support Teen Anxiety
What will be covered: This workshop provides Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) tools to support teenage anxiety. We will explore the science of anxiety and stress and provide a framework to challenge anxious thinking and encourage the development of problem solving skills.
When: Tuesday 9th July (6-7pm)
Where: Zoom (link to be emailed the week before)
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For more information on the Kidman Centre, please see the website: www.tkc.uts.edu.au
Or fill in the form if you’re interested in attending the workshop
I hope that you have found this communication useful, and reinforce these messages with your daughters. By working together in partnership to rise above life’s challenges and minimise stress, we see one’s mental strength increase.
Please keep dialogue open with your daughter’s Pastoral Care Teacher, Coordinator or myself know if you have any concerns,
Sarah Charles
Director of Pastoral Care