Page 75 - 2016 Yearbook

HOUSES

From the Deputy Principal

– Wellbeing

“C hildren will not care how much they know until they
know how much you care.” This slightly altered quote
from American pastor and leadership management expert John
Maxwell encapsulates the importance in education of pastoral
care which has been described as an ancient model of emotional
and spiritual support found in all cultures and traditions. It
is integral to the wellbeing of our students and helps nurture
their social and emotional learning (SEL). SEL can help students
develop the understanding, strategies and skills that support a
positive sense of self, promote respectful relationships and build
their ability to recognise and manage their emotions and make
responsible decisions. 1
SEL is the organising umbrella under which we develop
programs in resilience, violence prevention, anti-bullying, goal
setting, drug prevention and cyber safety. The goal is not just to
reduce th ese problems among our students but to enhance the
school climate and, ultimately, their academic performance.
Psychologist Daniel Goleman, author of the best-seller,
Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ believes
an important part of SEL is to improve students’ self-awareness
and self-mastery by attention-training exercises that strengthen
the neural circuitry for “cognitive control” (i.e., learning readiness,
concentration, and impulse control). He says students should
also be taught empathic concern, a key to social intelligence, which fosters a genuine concern for others. Our current house
2
structure does that well. As Samaritan figures our students raise funds to support Marist charities locally and internationally. Our biggest
fundraiser for the year is the student-led fete on Assumption Day. Our students and their families also give generously to Vinnies’ winter
and Christmas appeals.
Developing SEL is vital if ACK is to flourish as a learning community. To that end, from next year our house system will become fully
vertical with each pastoral care group made up of students from years 7-12. This kind of pastoral care encourages the development of
genuine and effective relationships between each student and his or her pastoral care teacher. Having daily contact with the student
over several years, the pastoral care teacher is in an ideal position to get to know them and their parents or guardians well and to share
in their growth, maturity and general development. Some of the many benefits of such a pastoral care system include:
• Helping to build a greater sense of community with increased interaction between year levels
• Providing additional opportunities for students to lead, particularly the seniors
• Providing peer mentoring and support
• Ensuring that every student is known and has at least on significant adult to relate to or talk with
• Establishing and instilling a strong sense of belonging
• Providing parents and carers with a familiar point of contact at the college
• Allowing students to observe the school journey through other students before it is their turn
• Increased college and house spirit
Through trusted relationships we feel valued and acknowledged and these allow our students to become better learners, and, hopefully,
in the words of St Marcellin “good Christians and good citizens”.

Maurice Di Muzio
1. https://www.edutopia.org/sel-research-learning-outcomes#definition
2. http://www.casel.org/two-new-books-by-casel-co-founder-daniel-goleman/

69 Assumption College Kilmore 2016 Yearbook