Leader of Student Engagement
A Month of Growth and Grace
The first month of the school year has flown by, and what a wonderful start it's been! As we settle into routines and build new friendships, we've been reflecting on the importance of creating a nurturing and supportive environment for all our students.
Pastoral care is at the heart of our mission at St John Paul College, and this month homeroom teachers and staff have focused on three key virtues that underpin a strong and compassionate community: trustworthiness, thoughtfulness, and commitment.
We’ve seen countless examples of trustworthiness and encourage students to be reliable and dependable, knowing that trust is the foundation of a healthy community.
Thoughtfulness has also been a central virtue. We’ve emphasised the importance of empathy and kindness, encouraging students to consider the feelings and needs of others.
Finally, we’ve highlighted the commitment shown by students and staff alike. Allowing students to embrace new challenges with enthusiasm.
Last Wednesday all our year groups engaged in their first pastoral assemblies for the year and covered a range of topics including inclusive language (Year 9), discovering values central to the year group Year 12), and looking at stewardship and its importance (Year 10) just to name a few.
Our Leaders of Student Wellbeing and Assistants, along with their homeroom teaching team, do a fantastic job to present relevant and topical presentations on issues faced by their respective year groups. All of this occurs under the banner of this term's pastoral topic - Belonging.
As we move into the months ahead, it is always a fantastic opportunity to continue to cultivate these virtues and more, by asking questions and starting conversations at home about the topics. Trying to find out about what your child has been learning in these pastoral assemblies will continue to build a community where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.
Mark Coster
Leader of Student Engagement