Program Coordinator - Student Services

It was fantastic to see our College buzzing with students, ready to embark on their new lives at the College. College life, either as a day student or boarder, is a radical change for almost all our new students. When discussing the possible content of this article with our College Chaplain Chris Urschitz, he explained that when he speaks to students about this transition he takes them through the process of adapting to and being comfortable with change. They reflect on what they have been through. The Student Services team has given a lot of thought into how we can best transition students into their new environment. 

This year, for the first time, we introduced a mentor program for our new Year 11 students. A dedicated group of 2022 Year 10 students undertook training with Chris during last year's Study Tour to act as mentors for incoming Year 11 students. Both groups met at the beginning of year to begin a relationship where our new students had a contact to go to for questions about College life. 

Activities such as the day-trip to Walpole and team building activities as part of the Year 10 Health program made many connections amongst staff and students. Also in Health, students have been exploring G.E.M. – Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness as a proactive approach to supporting students who may struggle with their mental health in the future. Other ways the Student Services team are supporting and advocating for student well-being during this transition period include:

• Student Services team meets weekly to identify and discuss students that may need to be supported in adjusting to their new school.
• We see it as one of our prime responsibilities to connect early on with all students so that they feel safe to reach out if they need guidance.
• The Hive, the home of Student Services team, has been created as a non-judgemental zone where concerns can be shared without fear.
• Considerable time is allocated to considering student’s background based on shared information gathering from parents on enrolment days.
• A collaborative approach is used to garner feedback on student transitions from all areas of the College – residence, farm and the classroom. Student Services regularly attend meetings with trainers, farm staff and teachers and also consult with residential staff.
• Student voice is key – not surprisingly we speak to students, a lot. How are you feeling? What do you need? How’s College life? We take action after listening to students.
• We act as a conduit between the child and their family. Information is shared, concerns are raised. Effective communication is one of our highest priorities.

Underpinning a lot of the Student Services' vision is the importance of building positive relationships, one of the College’s three values. Creating positive relationships early on at the College sets up a sense of trust that supports both students and parents. 

The Student Services team is excited to be doing everything possible in providing a place that allows our young people to thrive.