School Highlights
Welcome day for Preps
On 2 Feb, we welcomed our Prep students and families to School for the first time. We are so pleased to have you here and wish you a wonderful start to the school year!
Wellbeing in the Year 9 Impact Program
Jason Moloney, Dean of Wellbeing ‑ Year 9
Year 9 is a year of change and growth. For young people, this is a period where oftentimes there are changes in peer dynamics, fluctuations in mood and motivation, as well as growth of independence and self-identity.
Despite the stereotypes, working with this age group allows us to reach students at a pivotal time in their journey, where we can help them navigate through their challenges with greater ease.
The Impact Program is complemented by our whole school pastoral structure.
As part of our pastoral program, our five Year 9 Mentors see their Mentor group at School daily and spend an entire day together each Friday.
We build rapport by walking the city streets, riding a tram or eating lunch, and it’s in these settings where we really get to know our students on a deeper level, allowing for real connections and the best possible individual care. Our daily mentor time also provides the opportunity to have one-on-one discussions in a safe and controlled environment.
We use the Project Wayfinder curriculum to explicitly teach wellbeing to students, and have also trialled the use of technology to monitor and track the wellbeing of Year 9s. This has been particularly vital as students have been learning from home over the past two school years, and we anticipate that this will be equally important in the coming years.
Through this strategy and structure, we have been empowering students to take control of their own individual wellbeing. Firstly, by educating them, and secondly, by inviting them to reflect on their sleep, nutrition, exercise and relaxation activities on a weekly basis.
Students are also provided with tools and resources to support their wellbeing through regular workshops with external experts from organisations such as Reach, ToolBox and the Butterfly Foundation, along with sessions led by our brilliant School psychologists.
We pride ourselves on getting to know the whole cohort. If, and when, challenges present themselves during the year, a team of dedicated, passionate and caring mentors are on-hand to help navigate and guide individuals.
There will be change, and there will be growth. Together as a team, we are so excited for the journey ahead with the Year 9s!
Watch the Year 9 Impact video below.