well being h ealth
DR ANGELA ZAGOREN
director of cou nselling and well being h ealth
T
he area of Wellbeing Health has seen tremendous growth over the past couple of years and we would like to inform you of our progress. Last year, TSS demonstrated its ongoing commitment to the psychological wellbeing of our students by employing two full-time psychologists. Our Preparatory school welcomed Ms Amelia-Rose Read, and Ms Jordan Howley became our second psychologist at the Senior School. These ladies each hold a Masters in Clinical Psychology and have quickly set about getting involved in student programs and working in partnership with staff and parents to support the needs of the boys. sharing the Wellbeing Health offerings of 2018 with you. WELLBEING HEALTH PROGRAMS
DR ANGELA ZAGOREN (DIRECTOR OF COUNSELLING AND WELLBEING HEALTH), MS CAITLIN ANDERSON (WELLBEING HEALTH PROMOTION OFFICER), MS JORDAN HOWLEY (SENIOR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST) AND MS AMELIA-ROSE READ (PREPARATORY SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST).
This year, TSS has continued its quest to explore new ways in which to improve the mental and physical health of our students. We know that psychological wellbeing plays a key role in academic achievement. We also know that childhood is an ideal time to introduce programs that promote social and emotional literacy, with the aim of preventing illness now and in later life. To assist us in developing a ‘whole school’ approach to student wellbeing health programs, TSS has employed Ms Caitlin Anderson as our Wellbeing Health Promotions Officer. Ms Anderson is an accredited practising dietitian and sports dietitian with experience in developing and delivering wellbeing initiatives in the private and sporting sector. Ms Anderson and I are tasked with developing a holistic and preventative program that offers continuous experiential learning opportunities around concepts of wellbeing to our boys from Preschool to Year 12. We have great pleasure in
Earlier this year, we launched a Mindfulness program tailored to all students from P-12. Teachers were provided with targeted activities (such as breath focus, mindful movement and loving kindness) that were aligned with our weekly themes.
We also introduced two new initiatives - Mindspace (Senior School) and Zen Zone (Preparatory School) - to complement this program and provide additional opportunities for students to further develop their mindfulness practice.
MINDSPACE
Mindspace is an alternative play option at the Senior School, which provides guided meditation. It is facilitated by Ms Anderson and is open to all Senior School students. Mindspace has subsumed the Senior School’s Zen Zone program, originally established by Ms Howley, which offered students an opportunity for lunchtime mindful art and crafts activities.
ZEN ZONE
Zen Zone is a mindfulness-based lunchtime program rewarding students who have worked well in class at the Preparatory School. It is a fun and engaging session that draws on both formal and informal mindfulness practice. A typical session involves a Tibetan singing bowl calling the boys attention to the task, calming music (alpha waves) in a formal meditation practice, and a fun informal mindfulness activity such as: making mindjars; visualisation and clay sculpting; drawing; balloon soccer; and mindful eating.
SOUTHPORTONIAN
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