Director of Student Wellbeing

Extended Pastoral Care and Student Wellbeing Program

In Term 1 I communicated the introduction of Extended Pastoral Care into our timetable. Extended Pastoral Care takes place once a fortnight, continuing morning PC until the end of Period 1. Extended PC serves a multifaceted purpose including delivery of our Student Wellbeing Program, the opportunity for private study/academic tutorials, extended House Assemblies and Year level Assembly. Yesterday students gathered in extended House Assemblies to acknowledge student awards, respond to current issues affecting our students and facilitate House Spirit. Much fun was had with Doyle and Dwyer’s Trivia battle and Hessian’s round-robin Tournament. Please see below the Extended Pastoral Care Timetable for Semester 2.

Wellbeing Staff Spotlight: Annalé Van Heerden, Head of Middle Years 

Annalé, affectionately known as Ms Van to students, rejoined SVC this year. She was a previous Dwyer and proud Green Team Pastoral Care Teacher and Core 1 Lead Teacher at SVC from 2016-19. 

In between time she was a Teacher and Head of Year at Calvin Christian School.

What are you passionate about in relation to supporting students and wellbeing?

All things related to making an impact within the Middle Years of learning, including wellbeing strategies and learning about students and their needs within this age group.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

Working with younger students, forming learning relationships that enables better engagement in class, making Maths accessible to most students and making students curious about the world around them.

What does ‘wellbeing’ mean to you?

Optimising the ability to cope and to function within a role without impacting your social emotional state and health. Being fully functional, present and engaged in the here and now.

What are some of the ways we can support our students’ wellbeing at the College?

Learning resources, teaching with wellbeing as a priority in my classes and supporting teaching in pedagogical practices to facilitate environments in which all students can thrive.

What are some of the challenges facing young people today?

Busy lives with financial stress at home; loss of real connections and social disconnection (face-toface connection skills); uncertain future; climate angst; social and political unrest; migration and changing social landscapes; loss of critical thinking skills due to over-reliance on technology.

If you could turn back time, what advice would you give to your younger self?

Nobody is looking, it doesn’t matter as much as you think. Get out of your own brain.

What’s one thing on your bucket list?

There are lots of things on my bucket list; all related to travel.