Year 7 Pastoral Guardian

Welcome to 2022 – a new year with new beginnings to look forward to. My name is Colleen Goodin, and I am the Pastoral Guardian for Year 7. I am looking forward to getting to know your child and undertaking this journey with them. If you are a first-time parent at Mount Alvernia College, welcome to our community. I understand it is a little difficult at the moment to become actively involved in the college, but we will do our best to keep you informed and up to date with what is happening in the college.

The start of the year is always busy as we settle back into the daily routines after the long summer holidays. It is especially hard this year as we have had the extended break. One of the factors causing some stress with the students, which has been observed by the teachers, is the lack of organisation. You can help your child with their organisation by establishing routines that they become familiar with and set them up for a stress-free day at school. 

• Create routines and spaces for work at home.  Set homework/study times; working at the dining room table; additional electronic devices (phone) in another room; monitor screens for distractions.   
• Make the timetable visible. Have your child display their timetable in a prominent position so they can see what classes they have the next day.
• Pack bag at night. Get your child to check their timetable at night, when they have completed their homework, and pack their bag with the books they will need for the next day. Then all they have to do is pick their bag up in the morning, add their lunch, and leave. 
• Uniform ready to put on. Organise their uniform and tie – with badges – at night so they just have to get up and put it on instead of hunting for items. 
• Use the Assessment Calendar.  Ask your child to map out the term’s assessment on the Mount Alvernia Study Planner.  Pin this planner near your child’s workspace.
• Create checklists.  Ticking off tasks is a great motivator and builds self-efficacy.  
• Ensure sufficient sleep. Many of the students are still going to bed late and finding it difficult to get up in the morning. Establishing a set bedtime that ensures they get sufficient sleep greatly reduces stress levels. 
• Healthy eating habits. It is very important for your child to start the day with a healthy breakfast. It is difficult to function when your body has not been refuelled for the day. 

School TV has an interesting report on Year 7 Transitioning into Secondary School that is well worth a visit: SPECIAL REPORT: Starting Year 7 | Mount Alvernia College (schooltv.me)

I look forward to meeting with you this year. If you have any questions or worries, please don’t hesitate to contact me.