03 NOV 2021 Student Wellbeing

It has been fantastic to have our students back in the classroom; and to see many of them so relieved and happy to be back amongst friends and learning face-to-face. However, we recognise that the challenges students have faced over the past two years have had a range of impacts. As we make the transition back to “normal”, the Student Wellbeing team is working on a range of initiatives to support students and help them manage these impacts.

Social-Emotional Learning

From November 8, students will participate in our first trial of Social Emotional Learning sessions in their daily Pastoral Care groups. These sessions will utilise a program produced by the Choose Love Movement specially designed to support students through post-COVID impacts and learning recovery. Teachers will utilise aspects of this program to engage students in enhancing their social-emotional awareness and building strategies to support their resilience.

World Teachers Day

Last week, the 2022 School Captains and Vice-Captains launched a lovely initiative to acknowledge and thank Kolbe teachers in the lead-up to World Teachers Day. Student Leaders asked students to spend their time in Extended Pastoral Care creating a message - through video, card, letter or drawing - to say thank you and tell a teacher how they have made learning special, fun and engaging. Students across the College embraced this wonderful initiative and sent messages of thanks to their teachers. I would take this opportunity to commend the Student Leaders on this very thoughtful initiative and for recognising the efforts of the teacher through the challenges of remote teaching.

Year 7 2022 Information Night

We recently held our information evening for the families of our incoming Year 7s for 2022. It was fantastic to see so many families online to hear key information to support their transition into Kolbe. Thank you to our Director of Students 7-9, Simone McLaughlin, for organising and hosting the evening.

Pastoral Care Structures

Following an extensive review of our Pastoral Care Structures, we are excited to announce a

change to our Pastoral Care system for 2022. From next year, we will be introducing a new Progressive Horizontal Structure. In this structure, students will be placed in Pastoral Care Groups with their year level peers. They will have a Learning Advisor who sees them each day and works with them to develop Social-Emotional Learning during their daily Pastoral Care sessions. Students will have a Year Level Leader who oversees their wellbeing. The Year Level Leader and the team of Learning Advisors who support students in Year 7 will move with them as they progress into Year 8 & 9, ensuring consistent support through their first 3 years of Secondary Schooling and offering parents a consistent point of contact. When students reach Year 10, the Year Level Leader will support them to transition into the care of a Senior Year Level Leader who will then work with them through to Year 12.