Our College’s mission is to form the whole person, this means we are committed to nurturing not only the academic development of our students but also their personal and emotional growth. Central to this mission are our Pastoral Care structures and programmes, designed to foster connection, belonging and support among staff and students, whilst ensuring our students can flourish in all aspects of their lives.
To support staff in this endeavour, at the commencement of Term 3, we had the privilege of learning from two esteemed guests Dr Helen Street and Leith Tarling. Dr Street, a renowned psychologist specialising in positive psychology, shared valuable insights into fostering resilience and wellbeing among students. Leith Tarling, a behaviour consultant from Catholic Education Western Australia and an experienced educator and advocate for holistic student development, discussed effective strategies for engaging and refocusing students.
The Professional Learning Day was arranged as a response to data collected from the National School Improvement (NSI) surveys that staff, students and parents completed, as well as the Quality Catholic Education School Review (QCESR) we undertook earlier in the year. The focus of the day was identifying that effective pastoral care begins with building strong connections between students and the school community. Martin Seligman’s PERMA+ model, underpins the College’s approach to pastoral care, where we believe that when students feel valued, understood and supported, they are more motivated to engage in their learning and explore their full potential. We recognise that Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs are to be met, that is, a student needs to feel safe and that they belong, as well as have a strong sense of self, before they can fully engage in academic pursuits. As such, our Pastoral Care ensures that these foundational needs are addressed, laying a solid foundation for students to thrive academically and socially.
By nurturing strong connections, addressing students’ needs holistically and promoting academic excellence, we are confident that our students will not only excel academically but also grow in Christ to be people of Character, Learning and Compassion.
Mrs Fiona Flower
Vice Principal – Pastoral Care