Wellbeing is pivotal for a positive, dynamic and caring learning environment at Kiama High School. Each child is valued, supported and encouraged by a professional and experienced team.
Wellbeing team
The wellbeing team communicates and liaises with the whole staff on a child’s wellbeing or emotional status, and on the individual learning needs, so that each child can feel safe and supported within our school. This is vital so that each student can feel valued, can achieve their goals and fulfil their potential personally, academically and culturally.
Each year group has one year adviser that tracks and supports a year group through to the end of Year 12.
The wellbeing team includes the following representatives:
- head teacher student wellbeing
- year advisers
- head teacher student attendance
- counsellors
- student support officer
- learning and support teachers
- deputy principals
- principal
Role of year advisers
The main objective of the year adviser is to look after the wellbeing of all students in the year group. There will be times in every student’s school life where they will need extra support to cope with the stresses that arise both in and out of school.
The year adviser can be accessed during school time to help with the following:
- provide a point of contact for parents with questions or concerns regarding their child
- liaise between the learning support team and counsellors
- be asked to provide progress reports on students or organise meetings with staff in certain circumstances
To allow staff to provide the best care and management of students it is often useful to know what is going on in their life outside of the school walls. If you consider that an event, or ongoing issues, may impact upon your child while at school, it would be beneficial to contact the Year adviser so that they can raise the issue at the weekly wellbeing meetings.
The wellbeing meetings, which involve year advisers of all year groups; allow the principal, deputy principals, learning and support teachers and counsellors to be made aware of any issues and how they may impact on the individuals. In turn, they allow the relevant staff who interact with them regularly to be informed and they can adjust their management strategies as required.
Issues that are commonly identified and assessed include:
- injury requiring time off or modified activities/movement around the school
- medical conditions that may impact on students learning or general wellbeing
- death/serious illness in the family or close friends
- unexplained changes in behaviour or mental health
- issues that develop with peers
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