Wellbeing - Senior School

As we approach the latter weeks of Term 2, it has been a busy time for students in the Senior School, who have been involved in a range of activities reflecting how the dimensions of the College’s Wellbeing Framework are integrated into their daily lives.

On Wednesday, Years 11 and 12 participated in the annual BATYR Program workshops, each centred around shared storytelling and personal experience. The workshops are designed to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and empower young people to support both themselves and their friends. They foster a space for connection, understanding, and compassion. Both cohorts responded positively to the storytellers and the advice shared by the facilitator, describing the workshop as “informative, engaging, and relevant”.

Friday’s Assembly also included the commissioning of the Central Australia and Papua New Guinea Immersions, which will take place during the upcoming winter break. We wish the Year 11 students and accompanying staff safe and rewarding travels. Meanwhile, Year 10 students have completed the Numeracy component of the Minimum Standards Test, providing valuable data for Semester 2 planning, with testing to conclude next Tuesday, 23 June, with the Reading component.

In addition, Friday’s Pastoral Care Lessons across Years 9, 11, and 12 highlighted the many ways in which the College supports student wellbeing:

Year 9 spent time building their understanding of resilience, exploring how it develops not simply through experiences of trauma, but through overcoming the small challenges of everyday life. Students considered a range of scenarios and activities that demonstrated how small victories can contribute to a successful day, week, and month, while encouraging them to adopt specific strategies for managing their emotions effectively.

Year 11 Pastoral Care Lessons focused on the issue of gambling. Through group activities and discussion, homeroom groups learnt about the impact of gambling on the brain, as well as strategies to promote responsible decision-making and avoid addiction. Students engaged well with the material, reflected thoughtfully on the topic, and were eager to participate.

Year 12 homerooms had the opportunity to hear a range of voices speaking about manhood and to engage in their own discussions about manhood and masculinity in the modern world. Students also viewed clips developed by Mr Crino, titled Parallel Panels, in which staff and students shared their responses to questions on the theme.

Robert Simpson 

Director of Senior School