From the Leader of Wellbeing

“Discovering meaning in life isn’t easy in challenging times. Yet, such times might present the best opportunity to do just that.” (L.Waters, 2021)

What does having meaning actually mean?

Finding meaning has much to do with how we make sense of our lives and the world we live in. It’s also a question of discovering the inherent value in life and finding things to strive for in accordance with our values.

As we end another week of lockdown, we need to consider and evaluate how best to keep positive with an open mindset, through finding small pockets of optimism and purpose. A large number of studies support meaning as a foundation of wellbeing and health. According to Professor Lea Waters (2021), “people with a firm grasp of meaning have stronger positive emotions, better relationships, and exhibit many positive personal and social traits.”

When it comes to dealing with stressful circumstances, meaning helps us develop effective coping strategies. ​​Finding meaning in what we do is crucial to staying motivated. This especially goes for struggling students and for all of us in uncertain times, like living through this current global pandemic.

Finding meaning in life, and using it as a motivator in uncertain times, is particularly crucial for our students today. Meaning isn’t always easy to find in everyday situations and it is not uncommon for students to go through a period such as this feeling a lack of purpose.

The Wellbeing Team has invested a serious amount of time into creating a remote Community Time and Tutor Group program that accentuates the importance of connection and inclusivity – integrating activities for a range of interests into a series of creative and sporting outlets. Please encourage your daughters every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, to maintain that morning connection by joining Tutor Group Zoom meetings and being present and ready to go at 8.45am.

We need to remember that when we do return to face-to-face learning, the school day is very structured. To support the transition, we need to maintain similar structures at home by engaging in the various learning and wellbeing opportunities as a form of meaning and purpose.

Community Time

Some examples of Community Time this week across all Houses:

• Whole House Zoom: including prayer, a ‘show and tell’ video from the Colin Cares initiative and a Tutor vs Tutor Kahoot  
• My Marist Compass Goal Setting: students worked on their goals in breakout rooms and within their Tutor Group 
• Year 10 and Year 11 Holy Name of Mary Youth Group: students watched an invitation video from the Youth Ministers of Holy Name of Mary Parish Hunters Hill (Danielle and Luana, ex-students of MSCW). Students were invited to volunteer their time to become facilitators of the local parish Youth Group.

We Are Here To Help

Should you have any concerns of your daughter’s engagement with her learning and social connections, please reach out to the Tutor, House Coordinator or myself to assist as a starting point. Communication during this time is crucial and early intervention is always our preferred option.

Let us continue to work together to ensure that this remote learning period is a time of meaningful learning, with continued connection building and support for the wellbeing needs of each student.

As always, here are a few resources that may be helpful:

1. Top Parenting Tips For School Life During COVID (Triple PPP)
2. Raisingchildren.net
3. Parenting During Lockdown (University of Melbourne)
4. ReachOut for parents

This article on College life meets The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools – Charter #6 & #8