Welcome to Term 3

Last week we welcomed back on campus all Year 8 students who spent the last week of Term 2 participating in Triple E Week. The excitement over the past fortnight has been palpable with students in our Junior College Production, ‘High School Musical JR’. Congratulations to all involved in this wonderful display of talent, teamwork and school engagement.

Junior Years 7 to 9

Utilising Strengths for a Flourishing life

The PERMA framework model by Martin Seligman defines flourishing as doing good and feeling good. Doing good is about being connected, overcoming challenges and contributing meaningfully to others. Feeling good develops through the presence of positive emotion and engaging experiences.  Flourishing occurs when students experience positive engagement, living life, having curiosity, determination and vitality. Students who have positive engagement at school, enjoy school more and have greater motivation to succeed. Below is an outline of this week’s Pastoral Program aimed at supporting students to flourish through engagement:

Year 7

Inspiring Passion and Purpose: through exploring who has shaped their personal values and how to practise these values in living a meaningful life.  Here is a link to a short clip about finding your passion

Year 8

Students at Year 8 participated in one of the workshops below. They will rotate to the alternate workshop next Pastoral lesson on 2 August.

Brave Not Perfect: The focus of the Year 8 camp this year was ‘Brave not Perfect’. Students reflected on their experiences at camp, focusing on enhancing resilience, adopting a growth mindset and working collaboratively together in teams.  Students completed a series of journaling exercises to explore these skills. 

ToolBox Education: Students participated in class workshops facilitated by Toolbox Education. The workshop aimed to teach students how to recognise unhelpful thinking styles and create new and balanced perspectives. 

Student feedback was extremely positive:

• “It was fun as it was interactive.”
• “The presenter was good and pointed me in to the right thinking path for future situations.”
• “It was relatable.”
• “It helped us interpret our thoughts so we can work through our tough thoughts.”
• “I really liked this workshop. I feel it was very helpful to use in the future.”

Year 9

The Black Dog Institute ‘BITE BACK’ program, is an online positive psychology program designed to improve the overall wellbeing of young Australians.  It is an interactive, self-guided, online platform containing a range of quizzes, activities and videos.

For more information please visit https://www.biteback.org.au/MentalFitnessChallenge

Senior Years 10 to 12

Students who flourish at school are more likely to feel happy in themselves, in their relationships and in their ongoing studies and careers. Flourishing students develop a love of lifelong learning along with competent social, emotional and academic skills. They are more likely to develop high levels of wellbeing, become self-directed, and socially and emotionally competent. They are also more likely to leave school with a sense of purpose, positive values and a healthy curiosity about life ahead. As such, to flourish at school is the best way to flourish beyond school. Flourishing students are more likely to become flourishing adults who successfully pursue personal and professional goals throughout life.

(WAAMH – Western Australia’s Association for Mental Health)

Year 10

Flourishing, friendships and relationships

During our Assembly on Tuesday, Year 10 students engaged in a presentation addressing the concept of an ‘upstander’; someone who sticks up for those who may be vulnerable or going through a hard time. Being an upstander reflects our College Motto of Strength and Kindliness and all students were encouraged to challenge disrespect when and if they observe it, developing their assertiveness and characters as individuals. 

Year 11

Students reflected on their own personal values, characteristics and approaches to learning.  From there they reviewed the potential career choices suited to different personality types.  Students were encouraged to review their academic progress:

The PERMA framework(positive emotion, engagement and flow, relationship, meaning and purpose, accomplishment and achievement), cultivates an important element of positive emotion . Grit, purpose and resilience are keys to accomplishment and achievement.

Students were encouraged to select a role model and identify their actions that demonstrate their grit, comment on their purpose and describe the times where they showed resilience.  From their own experiences, students were challenged to describe a time when they showed endeavour, identify ways to stay motivated and strategies to overcome obstacles.

“Dear past, thank you for all the lessons.  Dear future, I am ready!”

Year 12

Students focused on their time post school with follow up discussion and Q&A about pathways, VTAC applications, careers and open days.
Flourishing students become flourishing adults who can…

“…manage work-related stressors effectively….show higher levels of performance and be generally ‘happier’ in their careers”
Seligman, 2011

“Do what you love and success will follow.  Passion is the fuel behind a successful career!”
Meg Whitman

“Life isn’t about finding yourself;
Life is about creating yourself.”
George Bernard Shaw

Suzanne Grima
Student Wellbeing Leader: Years 7 to 9
Jane Delahunty
Student Wellbeing Leader: Years 10 to 12
Acting Assistant Principals: Wellbeing and Engagement