Pastoral care is based on a deep respect for the dignity and uniqueness of the individual person as we are all made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). It is the philosophy that underpins ‘the way we do things’ at Moama Anglican Grammar’, enhancing our relationships with students and their families.
The school’s mission is to provide a safe and inspiring educational environment that provides students with the skills and confidence to help create their future. One of the strengths of Moama Anglican Grammar is the high level of care provided by our teachers in the classroom, in co-curricular activities and by support staff in the daily operations of the school. Pastoral is implicit in this genuine caring and supportive community provided at the school and in the ways that staff interact with students and their families. It is explicit in the pastoral care structure and curriculum which has been designed to meet the different needs of the students as they grow from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood.
At the heart of good teaching is the quality of the relationships within the school. The ways in which people interact with each other significantly affects each person’s self-worth, belonging and wellbeing. A Restorative Practice model underpins the school’s Pastoral Care policy, procedures and programs. Restorative Practice puts repairing harm to relationships and people over and above the need for assigning blame and dispensing punishment. Our restorative approach assists students to take responsibility for their own actions and work with those who are affected by their actions to repair the harm done. We believe this approach promotes respect, cooperation, collaboration, communication, problem-solving and self-responsibility. It encourages students to change their behaviour, restore damaged relationships, be forgiven, and to move forward with a positive attitude in order to focus on their learning.
Primary
In the Primary School, Pastoral Care is organised around the classroom teacher who is responsible for getting to know each student, for fostering their potential as a learner, for encouraging positive behaviours, and for being attuned to difficulties their students may be encountering. A team approach is taken towards the management of any concerns for individual students’ learning and/or wellbeing, involving (as required) the Head of School, Head of Teaching and Learning, Head of Pastoral Care and/or counsellor. Pastoral Care is an essential component of the primary school curriculum which is designed to enhance students’ social-emotional understandings and competencies. The Get Happier Project, Friendly Schools’ Plus program and What’s The Buzz are incorporated into pastoral care lessons, promoting positive peer relationships, positive teacher-student relationships, and explicit teaching related to emotions, social knowledge and social skills. The Get Happier Project has produced a free ebook “Happy Parenting – Raising Positive and Empowered Kids” to get your link to download the ebook contact admin@ivanhoney.com.
Secondary
In the Secondary School, each student belongs to a Tutor Group, a Year Group and a House. Tutors develop strong relationships with their students. They monitor student performance, overseeing and acting as advocates for their students’ wellbeing. Tutors are the ‘first port of call’ for the students and their parents for queries and concerns, both pastoral and academic. The year group is managed by the Assistant Heads of School who organises Year Level assemblies, camps and other year level activities that promote strong connections within the cohort. There is a separate Pastoral Care program, taught by the Tutor as well as units within subjects that deal with adolescent needs. Tutors are assisted by Buddy Tutors in the delivery of the Pastoral Care program, thus forming another significant teacher-student relationship to support students’ learning.
The Secondary School also provides free access for families to the Study Skills Handbook. This site provides valuable information about organisation, managing workloads, dealing with distractions, managing stress, goal setting, developing motivation and more. This service is free to our families. Please contact the School office on 5480 5900 for the username and password.