Student Welfare

Form Classes & Deans

All students are assigned to a form group of 25-30 students and they meet twice a day - at the beginning of the day for a ten-minute meeting and after lunch for twenty-five minutes that is devoted to Sustained Silent Reading (SSR). The form teacher is usually the first person a student will approach for support and guidance. In each of Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 we have a male and a female Dean who are also available to advise and assist students. Normally by the time they reach the senior school, students have developed their own support networks, but the Senior Dean and the four members of the Management Team are all available to assist students in Year 12 and Year 13.

In addition, a Guidance Counsellor is part of the support network. The School Chaplain and a health nurse are also available on a regular basis.

Houses

There are four Houses: Anderson, Cargill, McNab and Hunter. Inter house competitions are held regularly during the year. At present, Houses compete in athletics, swimming, cross country, and the Prefects’ Variety Concert. If students have a family connection with a House, they may request to be in that particular House.

Career Pathways

In the Careers Department we employ specialist staff who help students prepare for a smooth transition into the world beyond school. This includes goal setting, decision-making, building self-esteem and preparation for the workforce. The staff liaises closely with local employers (ensuring on-going opportunities for work experience placements), community agencies and training providers. The Career Pathways Department also co-ordinate programmes with private providers offering students the opportunity to access specialist vocational training.

Mentoring Programme

This programme has been developed as an integral part of the Year 13 course structure.

The aim of the programme is to give all Year 13 students training and skill development in the following areas:

Time management
Interpersonal skills
Communication skills
Negotiation skills
Leadership skills

“A Mentor may wonder if they are doing any good at all, but they are making memories that may come back at a later date and stage of maturity to set a course toward a productive future.”

Shirley D. Hammond