Student Wellbeing

I’m sometimes asked the question: “Is it hard to get boys to come to counselling?” My answer is always the same — “no, but it’s hard to fit all the boys who want to come to counselling into the available spaces”. It is indeed a good sign that boys (and their teachers and parents) can read the signs that help is needed and that they avail of this help. In terms of numbers, this year I’ve had ongoing contact with 103 individual students and with 15 students as members of three separate therapeutic groups (mostly from Tiverton Campus), and Mr Paul Marshall tells a similar story at Kinnoull. The more common issues boys have brought to counselling this year have included: • Mourning the death of loved ones • The ongoing and severe illness of family members • Chronic anxiety • Sadness, depression and suicidal ideation • Legal issues • Family dysfunction • Anger • Social awkwardness • School attitude and performance There has been some significant learning that has taken place in both counselling offices this year! Counselling is invariably difficult, as it draws people to make contact with aspects of living that are most painful or explosive, or disconcerting or shameful. But the good that most certainly comes from such contact far surpasses any initial difficulty. As I write, my mind floods with the many boys who have made strong and positive impact on their young lives this year, and congratulations to them.

The Student Wellbeing Team

The team (comprising three primary boys, two year sevens, three year 8s and three year 9s) has moved its wellbeing message online this year. It has offered via the Moodle program assistance to its peers in areas such as: • Illness and courage • Anxiety • Bereavement • Drugs • Sadness and depression • Positive attitude • Social irresponsibility: graffiti, planking • Suicide • Pressure • Selfishness • IT addiction • Anger, fighting and verbal abuse • Consumerism and happiness • Friendship • The inherent dangers in Facebook and other social networking sites I commend members of the team for their thoughtfulness and their dedication in promoting the message of wellbeing to their peers.

Parent Education Evenings

Three evenings: (one for parents new to DLS, one on the topic of “Resilience” and one of the topic of “What I Have Learned This Year”) were provided. I thank the many parents who have attended the evenings and set time aside in a busy schedule to better understand issues relating to their sons. As I always ensure that I have at least one student co-presenter at all evenings. I wish to thank the seven boys who have been part of the program this year. Their time, willingness and honesty have been appreciated by many (as phone conversations and emails indicate). Well done boys!

Mr Paul Marshall

After 20 years of service to the community of DLS, Mr Marshall is retiring. I’ve asked Paul to reflect on his years here in the piece that follows. I have been privileged to have worked with Paul — he is one of life’s true gentle-men. He enjoys a laugh, and has a grounded and deep understanding of the human condition. I wish him and his wife Monica the very best for the future.

Mr Pascal Rohan Director of Student Wellbeing

Reflections on my time at De La Salle Paul Marshall

I arrived at De La Salle in January of 1992, fresh from a stint of teaching and counselling in the San Francisco Bay Area and eager to begin work in a new school and a new country! I began by being assigned to teach French and Religious Education and to be a part-time counsellor on the Kinnoull Campus. And in the blink of an eye, it is twenty years later, and it is time for me to say goodbye. Someone asked me recently if I had seen many changes over these years. There are many constants about human nature — some things about counselling don’t change very much from one generation to another. Many of the challenges young people face, within the family, in school life, and in the broader youth culture as they move from childhood through adolescence into young adulthood, remain the same. And yet these times are an altogether different world from 1992. Some world events during this period have altered how we may perceive what the future will hold and affect our sense of security and hopefulness. Certainly, the technological advances of recent years have dramatically affected how we communicate and learn. Most of these advances provide exciting new ways of being in the world, but they also challenge us to use them for positive and generative purposes. One of the most gratifying changes I have witnessed is the deepening understanding by young people of the nature of good mental health and the exhibiting of a more compassionate and less judgmental approach to those who may be experiencing some form of emotional distress. Counselling is as much art as science, ever challenging. But, above all, being a counsellor at De La Salle has been a singular privilege: being able to ‘walk’ with students, to share their stories, to give support where needed, and simply to be a compassionate listener. De La Salle College is a special place with its own unique charism, characterized most especially by its commitment to the pastoral support of the boys (and their families) under its care. As De La encourages the boys to strive for excellence and to maximize their individual potential, so too is every effort made to provide a climate of support where resilience and self-belief are fostered, and where there is a sense of community characterized by mutual care and respect. It remains only for me to express my profound sense of gratitude for the opportunity to have been part of this De La family. I will not risk naming people — there are too many — but I must thank the De La Salle Brothers, a group of men who have served this community for 100 years as professional educators and as selfless stewards of their vocation responding to the call of their Founder, St John Baptist De La Salle. And I thank all the wonderfully dedicated men and women with whom I have worked over these years. It has been a gift to work alongside so many first-class teachers Ana Farrell, our College nurse, is now with us five days per week (10.30 – 2.30 pm) after her previous “job-share” arrangement with Jenni. In a large school, Ana has been busy tending to students who present with a variety of health issues, from headaches and blood noses through to severe injuries requiring medical treatment and hospitalization. Ana also monitors students who have asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and anaphylaxis. It is reassuring that we have Ana’s expertise on hand whenever we need it!

and staff, educators who care deeply about the work they do with young people. Finally, I do want to thank specifically Mr Pascal Rohan, Director of Student Wellbeing at De La, who has been for me a most supportive colleague. Thank you, De La Salle, and farewell. Mr Paul Marshall

College Nurse