Sowing the SEADs of Success

From the Assistant Principal Wellbeing and Engagement R‑12

In the year of Sincerity throughout 2024, our girls have been invited to be active participants in celebrating their unique and authentic selves. 

It is a privilege to educate young women in a Loreto school, working with exceptional teachers, mentors, counsellors, health care professionals and Leaders of Wellbeing and Academic Care, to enhance our student’s wellbeing and engagement at school. This detailed support network allows the girls to enhance their leadership skills, self-efficacy and agency, but introspectively form a positive identity of themselves, accept themselves and develop their individual values.

The SEAD wellbeing program has focused on 6 main areas: resilience, kindness and empathy, social and emotional intelligence, authentic relationships, responsible online engagement and identity, and sense of purpose.  In 2024, we have provided our girls with a range of opportunities during a significant time in their growth and development. 

Let’s look back at the highlights of 2024:

Mamma Mia and Peter Pan the Musical – brought a smile to all who participated

Sporting matches in College, especially our Intercol with Mary MacKillop 

Connection with local nursing homes and parishes 

All camps Year 3-12 including Year 10 Kangaroo Island Camp - listening to fun playlist tunes and singalongs and surfing at Hanson Bay and driving Aerobics girls down to Robe in the Boarders Bus! 

Year 6 Canberra trip which allowed the Junior school girls to develop independence as they travel to the Australian Capital Territory 

Leadership Handover and Year 12 Graduation including Rose-Giving, Merit and Mass

Jubilarian flower giving from reception to year 12s

Year 7 and 8 Disco with invited students from neighbouring schools and Rostrevor connections across Junior and Senior School fostering special respectful relationships

R-3 Norwood Christmas Pageant and ELC – Year 6 Christmas Concert

Catherine House donations to the local women’s shelter 

Spirit, energy, participation, and passion at every College event!

Our SEAD program is built on the notion of student voice, exemplified in the data analysis which assists with our understanding of our students and student issues. Our weekly Pulse check-in is instrumental to ensuring there are “no invisible children”.

I was fortunate to present our SEAD program at the International Coalition of Girls Schools symposium in Melbourne earlier this year. I spoke with Megan Murphy, the Executive Director of the International Coalition of Girls Schools, about the importance of an all-girls education and more importantly, the impact the learning environment has on student wellbeing and engagement. Our award-winning SEAD program is specifically designed for sequential growth and development and acknowledges the phases of a girl’s transition from childhood to young adulthood. 

In all the work we do at Loreto, our foundress Mary Ward is guiding our thinking and decision making with a commitment to girls education:

“Women in time to come will do much” 

Emma Searle 

Assistant Principal Wellbeing and Engagement R-12