By Mrs Julie Collins, Assistant Principal Pastoral and Wellbeing

Review of 2024

In 2024, the Pastoral Academic Leaders evolved to Pastoral Leaders who continued their focus on student wellbeing and were able to further enhance the support of their cohort, with support from Curriculum Leaders regarding academic matters.

Our wellbeing programs moved from Pastoral Care sessions to Wednesday afternoons, and alternated between chosen wellbeing activities and healthy minds activities. The healthy mind rotation allowed us to host amazing presenters to support the holistic growth of our students while avoiding some interruption to class time.

As always we started the year with online safety reminders from Brett Lee at Internet Safe Education, raising awareness for students of the dangers and risks they can be exposed to online. His presentations also offered the necessary tools students can arm themselves with when navigating this complex space. Parents also learned tips about the importance of educating themselves about their child’s internet use and the absolute necessity of supervision.

Responding to enquiries regarding parenting support, we were fortunate to secure three sessions from the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program. This program included sessions on Getting Teenagers Connected, Raising Responsible Teenagers and Raising Competent Teenagers. Further information on these topics has been provided in the newsletter throughout the year, along with links to free online programs.

For the senior students, we had Adair Donaldson present the facts from a legal perspective about consent; very powerful, and in some cases, confronting. Nevertheless his presentation was a necessity.

RACQ Road Safety Program for Years 11 and 12 students was an opportunity for students to make connections with their own driving skills, the decisions they make and the consequences. Further consideration of decision-making and consequences followed with a visit from Red Frogs for our departing Year 12 students.

LIVIN presented an animated awareness session on breaking the stigma associated with mental health and promoting positive mental health.

Our leadership development days for the Year 11 cohort were held at the end of Term 3, giving students the opportunity to decide on their theme for 2025, special guests to help support their understanding on what it means to be a leader and how imperative it is to work as a team. We look forward to working with our Year 12s in 2025.

Camps and retreats are always a highlight for each year level along with the organisation that is required to make each adventure a success. The effort and time is worth it when we see the smiles and appreciation from students. 

The pastoral team for 2025 has seen a couple of shuffles as Pastoral Leaders move to their year levels for 2025.

Year 7       Mr Fabian Carrasco
Year 8       Mrs Jill Hume
Year 9       Mr Brett Hay
Year 10     Mrs Dimity Gardner
Senior       Ms Codie Ellis

I am sure you are vey much aware that our main pastoral focus this year has been on the little things and being kind. Each assembly, students have been given examples, shown clips, watched skits or been given a challenge for their PC on these topics. We look forward to building on these in 2025 and having our seniors lead the way.

Communication and working together is how we wish to continue to help shape your children and our students into amazing adults!

Thank you for the support you have shown the Pastoral Leaders and our wellbeing team at the College during 2024. We look forward to an even better 2025.