Assistant Principal (Years 7/8) Report 

Report from Assistant Principal Years Yr 7/8

Alice Paget

Dear students, parents and guardians,

This week marks the half-way point of the Term. All students at the College have recently completed the Attitudes to School Survey. The AtoSS is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education to assist schools to gain an understanding of students' perceptions and experiences of school. 

We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction. 

I would like to extend my gratitude in the honest reflections of our student body in capturing our areas of strength and areas that may require a greater focus within College. We look forward to unpacking the data sets later in the year. With this information we evaluate, develop goals and plan actions to improve our students’ learning experience and wellbeing in the College.  

Wellbeing (Brain Care)

Wellbeing has been recognised by the Department of Education as crucial and valued of equal importance to learning. Wellbeing is the development of the capabilities necessary to thrive, contribute and respond positively to challenges and opportunities of life. Wellbeing is now being explicitly taught in each year level at Westall SC. Let’s have a closer look at what is happening in Years 7 and 8 this Term:

• Social Stencil: 

Year 7s are working there way through the Social Stencil Program, that teaches practical social concepts and strategies, to build peer relationship skills, and a culture of respect, understanding, care and collaboration. This Term students take a deeper dive in how to navigate friendships conflicts, and how to overcome challenges through a lens of problem solving, care and assertive communication. 

• Resilience Project

Year 8s have been focusing each week on 3 key pillars that have been proven to cultivate positive emotion: Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness. Each week they have also self-assessed their healthy habits (including their sleep, screen free time, movement and social connection). This Term students are completing an Inquiry Project on digital citizenship, ‘Is social media helping or harming our mental health?’. A very interesting deep dive for our Year 8 cohort. 

Keen for more ways to improve you and your family’s mental health? Take a look at some of the resources from the Resilience Project Wellbeing Hub for Parents / Carers below. 

https://theresilienceproject.com.au/at-home/parents-2023/

Until next time, take care and stay warm through these colder months!

Alice Paget

Assistant Principal (Years 7/8)