Big Sister, Little Sister Program – Pastoral Care
The Pastoral Care Structures at MLC School
In the Junior School each student comes under the care of her Class teacher. There is also a Stage Coordinator who is there to assist, as well as a House Mentor. All girls belong to one of four Houses and these provide a base for friendships, spirituality, service and sport.
In the Senior School, students have a ‘Luminary’ who they meet twice a week and who is their first point of call for all everyday issues. The Luminary works closely with the Head of Year who manages pastoral care for an entire Year group. Specific academic issues are dealt with by Heads of Department and these Heads of Department and Heads of Year oversee the academic, pastoral and general care of every girl.
Girls are also supported by one of ten Heads of House who look after the celebratory and community assets of School life.
The School has three experienced Counsellors who see girls for a variety of reasons ranging from friendship issues to study focus to specialist strategies that may exist both inside and outside school.
Another important way of supporting Year 7 girls is through the Big Sisters/Little Sisters program, whereby Year 11 girls are partnered with Year 7 girls to provide them with an older friend/mentor who can help them navigate their way through the School from a peer perspective.
Our Year 11 ‘Big Sisters’, care for their ‘Little Sisters’ in Year 7 on a regular basis
The Year 11 girls are a wonderful support for the Year 7 girls, focusing their conversations on friendship and connection with words of encouragement about the importance of getting to know different girls in the Year group and offering suggestions about how to do so. We hope all Year 7 girls will feel that their ‘Big Sister’ is another person at School they can go to for additional support.
– Karen Roberts
Head of Year 7
The Year 11 girls recently spent time during Luminary, with their Year 7 Little Sisters. It was nice to see how each Luminary group found different and fun ways to engage and bond with the Year 7 girls. Indeed, looking at the photos it should come as no surprise to you that I have received a lot of positive feedback from teachers about the particularly mature and caring relationships that this group of Year 11 girls have formed with their Little Sisters; something that is a credit to them.
– Felicity Berry
Head of Year 11
