Middle Years 

Belonging at School

Having a sense of belonging is seen as an important aspect of life in general as well as at school. Dr Kelly Allen, an education researcher at Monash University and founder of the Belonging Lab, has shown that creating a sense of community among students and building a sense of belonging to their school is one of the most effective responses toward rising rates of mental illness, disengagement, social isolation, and loneliness. 

So, what is School Belonging? Put simply, school belonging is a student’s sense of feeling accepted and respected in school.

Dr Allen outlines that the most effective ways to improve school belonging are to build connections between students and staff and encourage prosocial, positive, peer-to-peer relationships as well as healthy relationships with parents. For students this involves:

Building connections with your teachers. We are people with differing and often interesting lives!

Developing respectful and prosocial relationships with your peers. Trust each other, treat others with kindness and be inclusive. 

Include your parents in your school life. Talk about your day at school, the ups and downs, the highs and how you got through the lows. 

With the successful Year 7 and 8 Orientation Programs and Year 9 Grampians retreat last week, I hope that all Middle Years students feel a sense of belonging to both the College and the MYPEC. Week Two has offered a positive start to the academic year. Well done to the Year 7s on a successful first academic week of Senior School. I do hope that all students can bring a sense of belonging to each of their subjects and co-curricular activities this year.

Mr Ben Hawthorne

Head of Middle Years