Wellbeing and Engagement
Shannon Ross
Engagement and Wellbeing Wrap-Up!
What an amazing year we have had in the wellbeing and engagement space at Woodmans Hill Secondary College!
I would like to share with you some of the highlights of our 2023 school year.
We have seen increased levels of student engagement and participation across both the Junior School and Senior school, and this has been reflected in key data sets such as attendance and Student Attitudes to School.
Student Attitudes to School
Home Group Success
As we continue to build our Home Group program at Woodmans Hill, and invest heavily in supporting Home Group teachers to build a strong connection to the students in their group, it is very pleasing to see the positive reinforcement of this from the students at Woodmans Hill.
70% of our students feel that they have a staff member who cares about them and advocates for them at school. 90% of students feel a sense of inclusion, and our data for sense of connectedness is above state % as well.
| Factor | Woodmans Hill % positive | Similar Schools % positive | Network % positive | State % positive |
| Schools with similar numbers and demographics | Schools in the Ballarat network | All schools across Victoria | ||
| Advocate at School | 70% | 59% | 61% | 61% |
| Sense of connectedness | 46% | 38% | 39% | 45% |
| Sense of Inclusion | 90% | 80% | 84% | 82% |
Best Practice Transition Processes
Stephan Fields, myself and our wonderful Year 7 Transition leader Emily Beale were selected to present at a Network Principal Forum last month to highlight our Transition structures and processes implemented when students enter our school community at Year 7.
Emily, Heather McClure and Minnka Ferrandez-Santis form the core of our Transition team and they have developed a program which builds strong links between feeder primary schools and Woodmans Hill as well as gives the necessary wrap-around care to all new students. Strategies like giving Year 7 classes home base classrooms, Early-bird orientation day and family social events help ease concerns an ensure that students are successful at transition. Their work is to be commended and is reflected in the views of our students.
| Factor | Woodmans Hill % positive | Similar Schools % positive | Network % positive | State % positive |
| Schools with similar numbers and demographics | Schools in the Ballarat network | All schools across Victoria | ||
| School Stage transitions (Year 7 and new students) | 66% | 57% | 61% | 61% |
Merits
In 2023, we saw a whopping 4076 merits be issued to students for positive behaviours! What an incredible example of students demonstrating our school values.
Overall, our Year 8 students were awarded the highest amount of merits for a Year level cohort! Well done to these students for an amazing year.
Wellbeing Programs
This year saw our Woodmans Hill students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of programs across the school which aim to build community, connection, engagement, leadership, confidence, resilience or lift physical or mental health.
We are planning to diversify and increase our offerings in this space in 2024, so ensure that you keep your eyes on Compass to access programs when they are offered.
Programs offered in 2023:
- Hands on Learning
- Engage with Woodmans
- Blue Edge
- Psychoeducation
- I am Mindful
- Drumming Circle
- Social Skills
- Art Therapy
- Nutrition Week
- The Man Cave
- Flourish Girl
- Interoception
The wider wellbeing team at Woodmans Hill wishes everyone a safe and happy Christmas and Holiday period.
We are looking forward to supporting you again in 2024.