Student Wellbeing
From the Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing
We continue to celebrate and embrace the many learning opportunities at the College. The last month has been an exciting time, as we have seen much learning and relationships continue to flourish.
The journey experienced by our students as they participate in the richness of College life through structured learning in the classroom, co-curricula events, Urban Retreats and the many excursion and incursions encourages our learners to embrace new challenges with energy and optimism. It is through energy, optimism and perseverance that our women will develop skills in resilience, collaboration and time management. We as adult role models need to work and model skills of an open mind and joy, as we enter the unknown.
It has been interesting to observe the different approaches students have taken in the various activities. Importantly the determination and perseverance is what ensured our students completed the task and gained the most from the experience. Our young people need to learn that in life we face many challenges but we need to employ strategies and to believe in ourselves. Our ability to manage setbacks and obstacles is a great personal strength.
From the parenting matters website:
Resilience
Resilience is a 21st Century parenting concept that every parent needs to understand.
Some kids are resilient by nature – their temperament helps them to be mentally and psychologically tough. You know those kids. They get straight back up after a setback or disappointment. Rejection in the playground doesn’t faze them. Unfortunately, not every child has such natural resilience.
The good news is that most of the research shows that resilience can be nurtured and developed, particularly when parents themselves are resilient and they actively foster it in their kids.
Resilient kids share four basic skill sets- independence, problem-solving, optimism and social connection.
Building Resilience
From a resilience perspective parents need to coach kids through some of their more challenging moments and reviewing what they may have learned for next time. Avoid solving all their problems for them.
You can promote a lasting sense of resilience in your kids by:
Having a positive attitude yourself. Your attitude as a parent impacts on their ability to bounce back from some of the difficulties they face. Make sure you model a ‘you can do it’ attitude for your child when they meet some of life’s curve balls.
Look for teachable moments. Many kids’ learning opportunities are disguised as problems. Make the most of these opportunities so that kids can grow and learn from some of the challenges they face.
Make kids active participants in the family. Active participation in a family develops the self-help, problem-solving and independence skills of kids that are necessary for resilience.
Build kids coping skills. There are plenty of strategies you can pass on to kids to help them cope when life doesn’t go their way, including acceptance, getting away for a while, and normalisation.
Promoting resilience in kids is a not a single event but a continuous process that requires adults to be supportive and empathetic when things don’t go their way. It also requires you as a parent to have an understanding of resilience, so you have faith in your yourself, and your child’s ability to cope.
Male Mentor's Breakfast
Later this month we will be hosting the Annual Male Mentor Breakfast. We invite all male mentors to attend this breakfast with their daughter or young woman they nurture and care for. The flier is in this weeks newsletter on the Calendar page.
Student Safety and Wellbeing - A Child-safe School
At Mount St. Joseph Girls’ College we hold the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of our school. Our commitment is drawn from and inherent in the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the sanctity of each human person at the heart of the gospel (CECV Commitment Statement to Child Safety). Celebrating and affirming all young people in the Charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, we value the dignity and individuality of each person in our community and seek to live in a community guided by justice and fairness for all.
For our students to flourish academically and in all areas of their lives, it's important that they are happy and enjoy being at school. Their safety and physical and mental wellbeing are of paramount importance to us.
Where Can I Go For Help?
We encourage any student who feels unsafe to confide in a trusted adult or contact the College's Child Safety Officers, Mr Steven Mifsud and Ms Stacey Bourke in person or by email: childsafety@msj.vic.edu.au
The College has psychologists who are available to help students and their families. Our wellbeing team includes psychologists, Director of Student Wellbeing, Wellbeing Leaders, Teachers and Pastoral Group Teachers.
The Child Safety Team continues to meet and we are currently exploring respectful relationships between staff and students through the use of online or electronic platforms. If you have any ideas please feel free to contact me at the College.
Student Led Workshops
It was lovely to meet so many families in Term 1 at our Student Led Interviews. Student voice is an important aspect of our College for our learners to own and direct their learning, wellbeing and faith. This evening was only the beginning of the many conversations centred on your daughter’s learning. I urge you to continue these conversations and place your daughter’s learning and growth at the heart of conversations here at the College. A reminder that Student Led Interviews will take place on 3 September for students in Years 7 – 10.
Steven Mifsud
Deputy Principal - Student Wellbeing