Wellbeing & Inclusion
at Willy
Collective Connection - The Power of Belonging
Belonging is a fundamental part of being human; we need people and this need is hardwired into our brains. An MIT study in 2020 found we crave interactions in the same region of our brains where we crave food, and another study showed we experience social exclusion in the same region of our brain where we experience physical pain.
There are three kinds of connections that we have with people:
- Intimate Connections – with people who love and care for us, such as family and friends.
- Relational Connections – with people who we see regularly and share an interest with, such as workmates, classmates, teachers and the person who serves us coffee everyday!
- Collective Connections – with people who share a group membership or an affiliation with us, such as schools, sports clubs and the people who barrack for the same footy team as us.
Relational and collective connections are what schools thrive on. Relationships between students, staff, families and the wider community enrich our lives and increase our wellbeing. A student at Williamstown Primary School begins their collective connection and strong links to the school by identifying as a Willy Kid. Having this strong and common link from Prep to Year 6, ensures that our students have a sense of purpose and belonging, and a common goal; to be a responsible, respectful and resilient learner. This follows them because after all; Once a Willy Kid, Always a Willy Kid!
But it is not only our Willy Kids program that fosters collective connections. It is the whole school activities that bring our students together with a common purpose; to enjoy each other, enjoy the things they are learning about as a school and enjoy the benefits of connecting with all their peers; and not only the peers in their classrooms.
Our recent Bastille Day celebrations were a perfect example of collective connections thriving at Willy Primary. It was beautiful to see ALL the students celebrating the efforts of their peers when parading around in French inspired outfits, celebrating their teachers for embracing the brief, and celebrating Madame CriCri and the French Club students for their efforts. Walking around the ‘French Marketplace’ in the afternoon ensured that we could witness all of our Willy Kids interacting with each other, listening to our beloved bands, buying delicious pastries and introducing families to French culture.
Valuing collective connections and providing opportunities for our students to belong to something bigger than themselves is something we are committed to and look forward to every term. These special days at Willy Primary are cemented in history and are almost non-negotiable because we see how important they are for our community of learners and their wellbeing.
Kind regards,
Lisa Leydin Anna Swan
Assistant Principal Learning Specialist
Disability, Inclusion & Wellbeing Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader (Wed–Fri)