Student Wellbeing

• Teachers are the daily touchpoint for students and families. Our teachers are valuable care-givers and are accessible and available to listen and discuss students’ social and academic progress with parents. 

• The Friendly Schools Plus Program is an evidence-based program that supports social and emotional learning. The program promotes positive peer relationships, positive teacher-student relationships and explicit teaching related to emotions, social knowledge and social skills, while reducing bullying.

• The Better Buddies Framework takes preventative action to reduce anti-social and bullying behaviour in schools. At HVGS older children buddy up with younger children and participate in formal and informal activities. The annual Better Buddies Games is a great example of the caring and respectful relationships fostered between students in our Junior School.

• Three way conferences are in place for students in Years 3 – 6 and incorporate the teacher, parent and student. The use of portfolios and reflections on the IB Learner Profile attributes is at the forefront of these conferences, allowing the student’s work and the student themselves to contribute to the feedback and goal setting process.

• Interviews can be arranged with key personnel to discuss specific student needs or issues. 

• Student diaries are an efficient communication device between home and school and helps form positive work habits. Diaries double as reflection journals, providing students with opportunities to share their learning journey with parents.

“Happiness is one big word to describe HVGS. Birds chirp on trees as tall as mountains touching the sky. I feel warm, happy and where I belong.”

• In the senior years, a robust and integrated House structure ensures that all students are noticed, nurtured and safe.

• Each student belongs to a small Mentor group. Mentor’s connect with their group each morning and assist in monitoring each student’s social, emotional and academic welfare. Students daily interaction with their Mentor sets the right tone for a successful day at school.

• Six Heads of Year support students academically and work with whole year groups.

• Four Heads of House are on hand to offer more personalised and individual pastoral, emotional and social support.

• Our Head of Senior Students, together with our Deputy Principal, oversees the work of this team of people and has overall responsibility for students wellbeing and their associated academic development.

• Students will have the same Mentor, Head of House and Head of Year from Years 7 – 12. For students, things may change around them as they grow up, but these people will always remain a constant. Parents meet with these key staff members throughout the year, and they know every child from greeting to graduation.

• The Year 11 Retreat is a special time for students to bond and to engage in sessions that focus on study support, vision and goal setting, leadership and teamwork.

• For our oldest students, the Year 12 Conference is the pinnacle of the Wellbeing Program.  During the conference, students take part in academic and pastoral sessions with world-renowned speakers and enjoy bonding activities in the great outdoors.  The conference mentally prepares students for the rigours of their final year of school.