Wellbeing overview
Last Monday, I was grateful to have the opportunity to address the first meeting of Scotch Parents for this year, on the topic of Wellbeing.
It is the school's view that feeling safe, valued and connected and having a sense of belonging are essential elements of positive wellbeing and to achieving to our potential. Having a strong sense of Wellbeing is the bedrock of our capacity to contribute in a meaningful way in all area of our lives.
At Scotch, our vision is to see everyone functioning at their best as often as possible. Wellbeing at Scotch encompasses everything we do to build each individual's capacity to live life well. We define Wellbeing as possessing the physical, social, emotional and spiritual resources to ride life's waves; and being able to recognise and make the most of every opportunity in order to be the best version of yourself, whatever the circumstances.
At the heart of Wellbeing at Scotch is the concept of "Knowing the Boy". At every stage of a boy's development, there are significant staff who seek to understand what is going on in his life and who know what skills he needs to live life well. We believe that everyone requires the following three pillars to be at their best as often as possible:
- Resilience (Perseverance; Grit; Self-Motivation; Mindfulness)
- Relationships (Emotional Recognition, Expression and Management; Gratitude; Kindness)
- Respect (Self-Respect; Respect for Others; Respect for the Environment)
These pillars and their related concepts form the basis of the Wellbeing courses which operate within Junior, Middle and Senior Schools. These courses continue to expand and evolve. These pillars also form the basis of the academic programme and are also evident in other aspects of school life, such as the co-curricular programme, Community Service and Outdoor Education. They are also implicit in the fabric of the school and we believe that an understanding of and a commitment to resilience, relationships and respect should define the young men who attend Scotch.
One area of focus for us this year is staff wellbeing; we believe that this is a critical element in the general health of the school. Students benefit greatly by seeing positive role-modelling and staff are better able to support each other and derive meaning and satisfaction from their efforts. Another priority for this year is to provide a wider range of parent workshops and presentations regarding significant issues for our students. Possible topics for discussion are dealing with anxiety, managing social media use and mindfulness. I will be seeking feedback from parents about which topics they would like to know more.
Cyber-Safety
Jordan Foster will be presenting to our Year 1 to 6 boys on the 13th of March regarding online behaviour and safety. That evening, from 6.30-7.30, Jordan will conduct a Parent Engagement workshop, with time for questions afterwards. This is a critical topic and one which we believe needs to be covered every year, particularly given how large a part technology plays in the lives of young people and given how rapidly the field is changing. I urge parents to attend if they can.
We will have Jordan back to speak with the Year 7 and 8 students on the 25th June. There will be another parent engagement workshop that evening. In Senior School, we will have Paul Litherland back to speak to students and parents about cyber-safety later in the year. I will publicise details closer to the date of these presentations.