WELLBEING DAY

Inclusion, character strengths, emotional regulation, effective communication and teamwork were at the heart of our inaugural Year 8 Wellbeing Day, held last Friday.

While Year 8 students from Fox and Briggs were engaged in their Packing Day in preparation for their upcoming Education Outdoors experience to Mt William National Park, students from Dean and Nance were immersed in a series of purposeful and engaging wellbeing activities designed to build both personal understanding and collective responsibility.

Throughout the day, students rotated through five interactive sessions, each offering a unique opportunity to reflect, learn and grow. A highlight was hearing from our Principal, Ross Patterson, who shared his own journey and spoke about the importance of inclusion. Students were challenged to step outside their own perspectives, engaging in experiential activities such as navigating playing tennis and AFL while blindfolded and/ or using simulation goggles, helping them to better understand the challenges and experiences of others and develop empathy.

Exploring character strengths formed another important aspect of the day. Our Director of Wellbeing – Penquite, Kylie Wolstencroft and our Middle School Social Emotional teacher, Pat Daly, encouraged students to reflect on their own strengths, using the VIA Character Strengths model and consider how these can be harnessed. Students considered how they can use their strengths in difficult situations to benefit others.

Katie Lester, our Person-in-Charge of Public Speaking, worked with students on their effective communication skills equipping them with practical strategies to further their public speaking. Our College value of Courage was explored, encouraging students to project their voices when presenting and to present with confidence even when they may not feel that way.

Another valuable leadership component was facilitated by our TCE Outdoor Education students, supported by our Head of Experiential Learning, Mark Hassell, who led a series of inclusive games and activities. Team building, and collaboration were key focuses of this Wellbeing activity. This modelled for our Year 8s the value of leadership and encouraged them to consider how they may include these skills in their upcoming Explore Year 8 (EY8) community service projects.

The day culminated with a visit to Beta Park Bouldering where students had the opportunity to put their learning into action. Whether navigating bouldering routes, communicating effectively under pressure, or supporting one another’s strengths and abilities, students demonstrated the key attributes explored throughout the day in a dynamic and authentic environment.

We are very grateful to the staff who supported this Wellbeing initiative and contributed to its success. It was a special day, and it was wonderful to see the engagement of our Year 8 Dean and Nance students. We look forward to building on this experience next week, when Fox and Nance students will also have the opportunity to participate in these valuable Wellbeing experiences.

Kiran Oates Pryor
Head of Penquite Campus – Middle