THE TOTAL WELLBEING PARENT CONFERENCE

This year we have been challenged to find new and innovative ways to continue to strengthen the strong partnerships we have with our Ruyton families. As part of our commitment to students’ wellbeing, in September we launched the inaugural Total Wellbeing Parent Conference, conducted entirely online. This virtual conference offered parents and guardians the opportunity to delve into wellbeing topics of interest and importance to them, and the needs of their daughter(s). Focusing on social, emotional, cognitive, spiritual, and physical wellbeing, participants chose from twelve sessions that were developed based upon feedback from the 2019 series. Run by our teaching staff, the sessions delved into topics such as the impact of emotions on learning; embracing imperfection; maintaining digital wellbeing; how to manage anxiety; and the importance of sleep and self-compassion, but to name a few. This was a fantastic initiative that not only showcased the expertise of our talented staff, but also provided a way for parents to confidently navigate the challenges for themselves and their daughter(s) at all stages of life.

‘What has emerged is that by stepping into the virtual world we have enabled parents to not only continue to partner with us, but to also avail themselves of the greater flexibility and ease of access that this new medium has provided.’

– Trish Hatzis, Director of Wellbeing

We also established a Virtual Book Club, which was run across four sessions in Term 2. Examining the book Untangled by Lisa Damour, this book club provided a meaningful way for parents, guardians, and staff to explore the topic of girls’ transition to adulthood, from the comfort of home. While face to face interactions will always be preferable, we are proud of how our community has remained connected during this difficult time, with the education and wellbeing of our girls at the forefront of our minds.