Wellbeing News

Good relationships are the basis for all learning. At Blackfriars Priory School, the development of the whole student is of paramount concern and as such, the relationships which they forge with others are an absolute priority.

During Semester 2, our Year 7 students will be using one key class lesson per week for the remainder of the year to participate in a wellbeing-focused program relating to relationship skills, emotions, teamwork, resilience and emotional intelligence. The implementation of this program which explicitly teaches the students skills, will aim to develop cohesion within the year level. Each individual student will develop a toolkit of skills for dealing with situations where they feel they have been unfairly treated and where they are better able to empathise and understand others, thus providing benefits to the individual and the wider school.

Students will also develop a better understanding of themselves as an individual; their strengths and areas for growth. The lessons will take place each week on Wednesday in Lesson 5 in the Fr James O'Doherty Performing Arts Centre and the sessions will be taken by both the Year 7 Key Teachers, our Deputy Principal and myself. There will also be guest speakers, for example, this week we have had two of our Year 12 Prefects discuss their idea of what it is to be a Blackfriars student. Students will also be provided with a Positive Education Journal to help guide them through the program.

As a school we are very excited to provide the boys with the opportunity to further develop skills; understanding of themselves and others and we look forward to their engagement in the coming weeks. We encourage parents and carers to discuss the program with their sons at home.

Head Prefect, Sebastian Deluca addresses the Year 7s at the new Wellbeing Program Initiative

This week we had the privilege of taking approximately 30 Year 10 and 11 students to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital to participate in the PARTY program. The PARTY program stands for Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth and is an extremely valuable experience. Boys had the opportunity to hear from a range of stakeholders involved in the various areas of the hospital that manage trauma-related injuries. They also saw the tragic consequences that can occur if they participate in risk-taking behaviour. The school has participated previously at the old RAH and we were again very pleased to take another group through the program at the new hospital.

Mr Brett Knowles

ASSISTANT DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - WELLBEING (7-12)