Year 8
This week in Year 8, our students have continued to engage thoughtfully in their Luminary program. The students had an opportunity for academic preparation, and celebrated International Women’s Day. On Wednesday the students had cohort presentations from Deputy Head of Senior School – Wellbeing, Andrew Taylor about the upcoming ACER Wellbeing survey (read information below) and from Round Square Coordinator, Henry Wijanto about the opportunity for student exchanges later in the year.
Looking ahead, next week we celebrate Harmony Week, a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and recognise the rich cultural diversity within our school. Throughout the week, students will participate in a range of activities during Luminary time, including cultural colouring in activities, interactive “guess the country” challenges and interfaith chapel services. Students are also encouraged to wear multicultural clothing, or school uniform with a splash of orange on Thursday with a gold coin donation supporting Round Square initiatives. International music, canteen specials and daily celebrations will further highlight the spirit of inclusion, respect and belonging that Harmony Week represents.
We look forward to seeing Year 8 embrace these experiences with curiosity, pride and a continued commitment to building a connected and compassionate community.
As part of our ongoing commitment to student wellbeing and pastoral care support, at MLC School we undertake a range interventions designed to enhance student voice and improve student wellbeing outcomes.
To help us understand further and proactively monitor the social interactions of students, we implement a range of data collection tools including the Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER) Social and Emotional Wellbeing Survey, specific MLC School student wellbeing program feedback and Trust Mapping. According to the Safe Schools website, surveys of this type conducted regularly allow for prevention, early intervention and ‘enhance the development of school environments where students feel safe, valued and engaged’.
Trust Mapping initially launched early in Term 4, 2019 and is now administered to students in Year 4 through to Year 8. Your daughter will be involved in the weeks to come. Students will complete the survey once per term throughout the academic year, during a Luminary session.
Student wellbeing support is crucial for social, emotional and academic success. When students feel connected to their learning community, the outcomes inevitably improve. Trust Mapping is designed to act as a proactive method of gathering information rather than a reactive process to deal with concerns that have already taken place. The purpose of gathering this information is to develop statistics and data to support or complement anecdotal evidence (usually observational) from staff regarding student connectedness.
The key focus is to identify students who may require additional support and ensure that they feel safe, supported and known at school. Steps taken following the survey may include Luminary or teacher check-ins, Peer Support Leader interactions and other student mentors. This exercise is not an end-point tool, rather a supplement that can provide insight and allow holistic student support.
Students and their families are given an opportunity to opt out and are reminded that the results are confidential and accessed only by their Head of Year, the Deputy Head of Senior School – Wellbeing and the Head of Senior School. Should you wish for your daughter to opt out of the Trust Mapping survey , please contact Andrew Taylor Deputy Head of Senior School – Wellbeing.
Please feel free to discuss the process with your daughter or contact me directly should you wish to clarify any elements of this intervention.
– Claire White
Head of Year 8
