Wellbeing

More time with Mentors

I trust our families enjoyed the school holidays and our students had the opportunity to refresh for the term ahead.

As communicated by Mr Kelly, a change in timetable has meant an increase in the amount of touch points in the week our students get with their Mentors. Mentor Group will be 15-20 minutes three times a week, with the main purpose being for Mentors to check-in on students, provide reminders whilst also offering encouragement, coaching, advice and other supports to assist students in feeling safe, included and valued. House Meetings will occur fortnightly in this schedule. I know our students love this time of their day and it is an important part of our pastoral care at Kinross Wolaroi.

As we move into Semester 2, families may find it helpful to have an overview of the key areas of learning each year group will be exploring in our explicitly taught Wellbeing program – Compass. Compass lessons are once a week and focus on wellbeing science from the Visible Wellbeing SEARCH framework.

For more information on our Wellbeing framework please visit the Wellbeing Hub page.

Compass Semester 2

Year 7 & 8 

During Semester 2, students will focus on developing healthy relationships, learning how strengths, habits and emotional awareness contribute to positive connections with others. Lessons will explore friendship skills, communication, managing challenges, and recognising how personal choices influence relationships. In Term 4, students will revisit strategies for attention, organisation, coping and study preparation, while continuing to build confidence in understanding themselves and their strengths.

Year 9

Year 9 students will undertake an important unit on relationships, covering topics such as healthy and unhealthy relationships, consent, friendship changes, communication skills, identity, respect and navigating difficult conversations. Students will also develop practical strategies for managing study commitments, examinations and assignments while building resilience, goal-setting skills and a growth mindset.

Year 10

As students begin thinking about life beyond Stage 5, Semester 2 focuses on both relationships and personal development. Lessons will explore healthy relationships, consent, respect, supporting others and effective communication. Students will also engage with topics related to emotional wellbeing, personal values, learning from mistakes, work experience reflections and building a practical wellbeing toolkit to support their transition into the senior years.

Year 11

Throughout Term 3, Year 11 students will focus on developing the personal skills and habits that support strong relationships, academic success and overall wellbeing during a demanding stage of their schooling. As the cohort move into Year 12 in Term 4, students focus on self and belonging, to build academic readiness for their HSC year and create a positive cohort culture as they become school leaders. Lessons are split into mini taught wellbeing, and opportunity for study and academic work.

Year 12

As Year 12 students enter their final term of Compass, the focus shifts towards preparing for the HSC, reflecting on personal growth, and celebrating their journey through school. Students will explore evidence-based study and exam preparation strategies, refine their goals, and develop practical techniques for managing pressure during the HSC Trial period.