Wellbeing and Engagement

Wellbeing, Engagement and Inclusion

Shannon Ross

Assistant Principal: Engagement, Wellbeing and Attendance

Welcome back! 

My role in 2022 is to oversee the areas of Wellbeing, Engagement and Inclusion here at Woodmans Hill Secondary College. I work with the Junior and Senior Sub-School as well as the Wellbeing Team to ensure that we support all students to:

• feel safe and secure at school, 
• feel as though they belong at school, 
• understand the importance of attendance for maximising supports
• highlight and prioritise student mental health and wellbeing

Our main goals for 2022 across the school are to improve the attendance of all students, to give students more voice and impact on the day to day management of the school and to foster the social and emotional wellbeing of all students from Years 7-12. 

Resilient Youth Survey

In the coming weeks, every student in the school will be participating in the Resilient Youth Survey. This survey collects, analyses and reports the resilience of young people in terms of their strengths, life satisfaction, hopefulness, anxiety and depression, coping style, and risk and protective behaviours. Gathering this data will enable us to plan whole school, year level, small group and individual interventions which will address the specific needs of our students. 

Home Groups

Home groups are up and running again for 2022 and we are looking forward to another positive year of extra supports for each and every student across the school. 

From Years 7-10 Home Group runs in their core classes in order to facilitate strong relationships between the students and between staff and students. The teacher is always one (or two) of their current classroom teachers. 

At the senior end, in years 11/12 the Home Groups run as mixed groups with both 11/12 and VCE and VCAL students. 

In 2022, for the first time you will receive a report for your child’s Home Group. This report will focus on their connection to school, participation, goal setting and achievement and will give you a better sense and understanding of the things that engage your child at school. 

Home Group teachers will also conference (meet one on one) with each and every student to set learning goals and discuss with the students how they can make improvements to be a better learner and the best learner that they can be. 

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Supporting our students mental health and wellbeing is always a priority and will continue to be so in 2022. Hopefully we will have more ability (with no lockdowns) to plan for intervention programs and educational programs across the school. Our dedicated wellbeing team continue to support all students whilst at school.