As a school we place a high importance on student wellbeing. We strongly believe that our efforts to promote personal and social capabilities and build resilience can be fostered through our multi-tiered Whole School Wellbeing Framework. A key component of a whole school approach to student wellbeing is the promotion of positive teacher-student relationships. Positive relationships are significantly associated with increased ‘school connectedness’ and with cognitive, emotional and behavioural engagement. Therefore, a sense of connectedness or belonging to school and to family is the single most important protective factor for our students. It’s associated with positive health and academic outcomes.
At Tier 1, all students are provided with highly individualised and differentiated teaching and learning programs that includes our Heath and Human Relations Curriculum (HHR), Rights, Resilience and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) and Wellbeing Curriculum. These are scaffolded, modified and differentiated, aligned and reflect the Victorian Curriculum under Personal and Social Capabilities and Health and Physical Education or outcomes associated with the Personal Development Skills in the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC). Zones of Regulation, RRRR Curriculum, Sexual Health Victoria, SWPBS (Be a RANGES STAR! – Safe, Thoughtful, Appropriate and Respectful) underpin our robust Tier 1 Wellbeing Curriculum. We also utilise key content from the e-Smart initiative (Alannah and Madeleine Foundation).
Students may be involved in Tier 2 and Tier 3 intervention programs that include Seasons of Growth, The Berry Street Educational Model, and/or our Social Thinking supports. These are delivered by our school’s MHIPS leader or Occupational Therapists who are trained to provide regular specialist advice and support. Students and their families also have access to Wellbeing supports, including social workers, NDIS Navigator, Mental Health Wellbeing Leader and Mental Health Practitioner.
In addition, we have Bonnie, our well-loved Therapy Dog who has her own timetable and many adoring fans!
Explicitly teaching social and emotional learning opportunities helps our students to build and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and express empathy, establish and maintain positive relationships, make responsible decisions, develop resilience to deal with change, create positive gender norms and contributes effectively out into their communities.