Pastoral Care

Mission statement
The Senior School acknowledges that over three years, its students are moving from a very supportive environment to independence. It creates an environment of living and learning where self-reliance, resilience, high expectations, Christian ethics and leadership are incrementally encouraged, so that they may graduate to make a positive difference in their families, communities and nations.

Our mission is inspired by the Homily of St Hilda:
Trade with the gifts God has given you.
Bend your minds to holy learning that you
may escape the fretting moth of littleness
of mind that would wear out your souls.
Brace your wills to action that they may
not be the spoils of weak desire.
Train your hearts and lips to song
which gives courage to the soul.
Being buffeted by trials, learn to laugh.
Being reproved, give thanks.
Having failed, determine to succeed.

The Structure of Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is the foundation of the student experience at St Hilda’s School. It enhances learning by encouraging a sense of belonging and security. Pastoral care provides a ‘safety net’ for students during difficult times, but also seeks to proactively support students by providing them with skills to navigate the many challenges of personal development through later adolescence.

Form
Form time provides a pause in the school day to gather in a small group of students from Years 10 to 12, from either Banksia, Melaleuca or Karragaroo Houses. Each form is led by a form teacher. During form time the roll is marked, notices are read and distributed and other organisational matters are attended to. Form teachers encourage senior students to involve themselves in the life of St Hilda’s and to meet School expectations. The atmosphere of Form Class is one of warmth, belonging and purpose.

Heads of Year
Each of the three year levels in the Senior School has a designated Head of Year. The Head of Year has a special relationship with their year level, being responsible for working collaboratively with teachers to ensure that the pastoral and developmental needs of students are met. They support students in meeting the School’s expectations and provide support for individual girls as needed.

Character and Leadership Development
In Years 10 and 11, all girls study Character and Leadership Development. These dynamic classes challenge students to explore a range of issues, including respectful and self-respecting behaviours, managing conflict, philosophical thinking, youth issues, approaching assessment with intelligence and the power of leadership.

Supporting Student Welfare
There can be times in the life of students when support is needed to help them achieve their best at school. To see the range of people who are available to assist students, please see Student Support.

Behaviour Management
In the Senior School, students continue to be guided by the School’s high expectations of Christian values, making positive decisions for one’s self and others, and contributing positively to the school community. There is a strong expectation of self-discipline, in the classroom and beyond. In the Senior years, many of the pressures that young people face come from outside, rather than within the School. The Character and Leadership Development program, Religious Education, Chapel themes, assemblies and individual counseling all work to educate students to be confident to make sensible decisions about how they interact with the world around them.

On those occasions when it is required, direct behaviour management is guided by the principles of natural justice. Students are supported to learn appropriate skills in managing interpersonal relations, conflict resolution and personal organisation. Any issue is dealt with promptly and privately, by teachers, the Head of Year or Head of Senior School, as appropriate.