Student welfare
The welfare of our students is important and in order to provide the support program which is a notable feature of our school, a network of welfare staff has been established.
Among teachers with particular welfare functions are the Head Teacher Welfare - Mrs Carter, School Counsellors - Mr R Lees, Ms L Van Dulst, Mr Balderston and Ms Warner and Mr Freney, Careers Education Teacher. If a student needs special care or attention from the school, Mrs Carter can be contacted, either by telephone or letter. A student who needs counselling assistance is advised to make an appointment to see the School Counsellor. If a student needs vocational guidance, an appointment should be made with Mr Freney. This welfare team meets fortnightly along with the school deputies Ms Van Dulst and Mr Lees. Special programs are organised for students at risk.
Student Advisers provide an immediate contact for assistance with school and personal problems. They give pastoral care, co-ordinate the Year's activities and advise on matters involving school progress.
If students have a problem, they should see their Student Adviser and they will be advised of the best way to cope, or it will be arranged for them to see somebody who can help with their problems.
Year Student Advisers in 2009 are:
Year Adviser |
|
Assistant Year Adviser |
Mrs M Howie |
Year 7 |
Mr G Bennett |
| Mr L Bowen | Year 8 |
Ms R Toyer |
Mrs Z Hammoud |
Year 9 |
Mr B Townsend |
Mr A Ang |
Year 10 |
Mrs N Waser |
Mrs S Heather |
Year 11 |
Mrs S Williams |
Mr D Allouche |
Year 12 |
Mrs P Kennelly |
Peer Support Program
A Peer Support Program operates during Term 1 as an integration process for Year 7. Two Year 11 students are allocated to each group of Year 7 students for one period per week. The Year 11 students are trained at the end of the previous year. Each group has a teacher as Group Patron.
The Peer Support Program trains senior students to help junior students. It develops a feeling of caring in the school community and reinforces the school environment by providing more personal contact between younger and older students. It gives senior students opportunities to extend their leadership skills and teaches them to look at the world realistically and find practical answers to personal and social problems. It provides junior students with a safe and friendly environment in which to develop their own individuality and discuss issues. Teachers trained for the Peer Support Program are at hand to monitor and evaluate the groups' activities.
Peer Tutoring
This program was initiated in 2004. It involves selected tutors (Year 10 students) who are formally trained through TAFE. The program is directed towards assisting students in Years 7 and 8 who have been identified as having literacy difficulties.
