Student Wellbeing Vision

Student Wellbeing

Wellbeing at JPC

At John Paul College we understand that wellbeing is critical to children and young people’s learning and life outcomes.

Wellbeing is understood to be ‘realising one’s unique potential through physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development. It is a sustainable state of positive mood and attitude, resilience, and satisfaction with self, relationships and experiences at school’ (Noble & Wyatt, 2008, p.21). Our mission “With Him is the Fullness of Life” shapes our school community and helps form our vision:

“the commitment to ensure every member of our community is empowered to achieve success, act with integrity and contribute to the common goodChristian discipleship for a just world.”

Through creating effective and efficient structures within the school and explicitly teaching wellbeing, we enable safe and respectful school communities: connect children, young people, families and staff through collaborative and caring relationships; engage students through experiences that motivate, empower, inspire and reframe the learning of wellbeing as an integral component of broader academic learning.

The four intersecting dimensions of Enable, Connect, Engage and Learn shape John Paul College’s Elements for Wellbeing.

“

It is in relationship with God and others in the school community that young people are enabled to discover who they are, where they come from and what their destiny can be.”

CEM 2017, Horizons of Hope: Wellbeing in a Catholic School.

Elements of Wellbeing

Child Safety Student Voice and Agency

Pastoral Care at John Paul College is a framework of support for our students from Year 7 to Year 12. It has a dual foundation of relationships and learning and is an integral element of our visible focus on wellbeing.

We Enable through Pastoral Care by providing safe physical, emotional, social and online environments that are positive, predictable, structured and familiar, through school policies, practices and pedagogy. We acknowledge and celebrate children and young people’s progress and achievements.

We Learn through Pastoral Care by personalising deep learning experiences

Pastoral Care

that help develop individual identity and encourage reflection and personal growth. We invest in a range of extracurricular and co-curricular activities to complement students’ interests, goals and learning profiles.

We Engage through Pastoral Care by building strong and productive relationships with students, parents, teachers and the broader community through collaboration and a shared sense of purpose.

We Connect through Pastoral Care by developing a culture in which all members of the school community experience a sense of welcome, belonging and attachment through caring, nurturing and trusting relationships.

“Pastoral care is a demonstration of profound respect for the human dignity of each person who is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1: 26–27). This call to respect each person is inspired by the sacred Scriptures and brought to life by the person of Jesus Christ.”

MACS Pastoral Care of Student Policy

Community Engagement at John Paul College is centred on the understanding that authentic human flourishing occurs in communion and connection with others. By understanding our individual and collective responsibilities within the John Paul College community, we strengthen a sense of belonging which helps promote resilience, positive behaviour and supports mental and emotional wellbeing.

We Enable Community Engagement by building strong and productive relationships with students, parents, teachers and the

Community Engagement

broader community through collaboration and a shared sense of purpose.

We Learn through Community Engagement by acknowledging and celebrating children and young people’s progress and achievements.

We Engage with the Community through fostering relationships and demonstrating compassion for all by recognising the dignity of the individual.

We Connect with the Community by developing emotional engagement with and understanding of issues relating to justice, inclusion and equity.

1 Thessalonians 5:14

“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”

Child Safety at John Paul College is an explicit commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment where the emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual and physical wellbeing of our students is a priority.

We Enable Child Safety by embedding an organisational culture of safeguarding children and young people in their community to ensure risk is rigorously assessed and minimised. Relevant policies and strategies are in place to create a ‘zero tolerance’ [1] of all forms of abuse.

Child Safety

We Learn about Child Safety by providing a broad range of opportunities for students to experience inclusion, diversity and what it means to be ‘safe.’ Relationships shape and affirm these opportunities.

We Engage with Child Safety through a ‘call to service’ which enables students to promote justice, inclusion and equity.

We Connect with Child Safety by being student-centred in all we do so that diverse opportunities can be experienced in a safe, nurturing and welcoming environment.

“Child Safety encompasses matters related to protecting all children from child abuse, managing the risk of child abuse, providing support to a child at risk of child abuse, and responding to suspicions, incidents, disclosures or allegations of child abuse (Ministerial Order No. 1359).”

Student Voice and Agency at John Paul College is an embedded approach whereby students contribute their ideas and thoughts to their learning and wellbeing collaboratively with staff to develop empowerment and connection.

We Enable Student Voice and Agency by encouraging inclusion, modeling collaboration and empowering the voice of students in the decision-making process. We Learn through Student Voice and Agency by providing opportunities for children and young people to strengthen their decision-making and goal-setting skills in the classroom, the school, at home and in the community.

Student Voice and Agency

Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV)

“

We Engage Student Voice and Agency by developing children and young people’s leadership skills, civic awareness, environmental stewardship, ethical responsibility and sense of hope, agency and optimism that, through their contribution, a better world is possible. We Connect through Student Voice and Agency by developing structures and policies that reflect Catholic teaching and the values of democracy and inclusiveness to ensure multiple voices are empowered and different perspectives are represented.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”