Secondary School News

From the Dean of Pastoral Care, Kylie Virgo

Welcome back to the 2022 school year. 

It has been wonderful to welcome back our students and in particular new students and their families. Our students continue to demonstrate their kindness and resilience as they support each other to settle into the school year. Along with the staff, our Prefects, Peer Support Leaders and assigned buddies have welcomed, assisted and connected with our new students to help them feel part of our welcoming and inclusive community. 

Although we are only two weeks into the school year, a lot has happened in and out of the classroom in the Pastoral Care space. 

This year the Secondary students are working in a new timetable with an extra 10 minutes for House Group on Mondays and Thursdays. This will allow students to attend regular Chapel services with Chaplain Justine and spend more time with their fellow House students strengthening the relationships within their House. 

Our extended House session on Wednesdays continues to provide opportunities for connection and a sense of belonging to flourish. These sessions also allow students to work through programs to assist them in mastering skills needed for their personal development. In Week 2 students in Years 7 and 8 began their Aussie Optimism program with our Year 9s starting their two year Growing Mentally Tough Teens program. Students in Years 10 and 11 continued with the second part of this program while the Year 12s enjoyed an engaging presentation from Paul Litherland.

To create more opportunities for student voice throughout the Secondary School the Leadership Councils have been expanded. Every Prefect portfolio will have a council made up of students in Years 7 to 11. Nominations for our Years 8 to 11 students were due this week and we look forward to recognising our inaugural Leadership Councils in the coming weeks and observing and supporting these students as they continue to develop their skills and use their voice in the growth of our school community.

This year John Wollaston continues to partner with leaders in their field to work with our students. Students in Years 11 and 12 have enjoyed presentations within the first couple of weeks during their VAP session. Jane Genovese from Learning Fundamentals spoke to our Year 12s on strategies to overcome procrastination while David Castelanelli from Alpha Motivation delivered the first of four presentations on Social Media Distractions.

Mr Castelanelli also began working with our Year 11s on the Sigma Leaders Program, an eight-part program aimed at preparing students for the responsibility of being a leader within their school and wider communities and to inspire them to be focused on helping and serving others. In the first session, students considered their own personality type using the DISC Personality Test. Students then learnt about the strengths and qualities of each type. We look forward to David returning throughout the year as these students prepare to become our 2023 leaders. 

There has been a very popular addition to the Secondary School with some of our students burning off some unused energy at the new basketball ring. We also eagerly await to see what the limestone wall will be surrounding in front of the Year 7 building. Some early suggestions include a swimming pool, vegetable garden and a big swing. Time will tell!

As this newsletter goes to print our Year 12 students will be putting the final touches together for the much-anticipated Year 12 School Ball: Glitz and Glamour. The Ball committee has worked hard to ensure the evening will provide a special memory for our Class of 2022. 

There is a lot to look forward to this year. At our opening assembly, I encouraged our students to live by our school values in action and words. I challenged them to take the opportunities presented to them to make today better than yesterday and to be kind and work hard. We look forward to supporting our students to meet the challenges they will face and celebrating the growth and successes they will experience this year. 

Kylie Virgo

Dean of Pastoral Care