For this week’s Secondary newsletter, we asked Caleb Folkes from our Secondary Student Welfare team to share more about the day-to-day work of caring for our students.
Somebody once asked me what an average day in Student Welfare looks like. It’s a hard question to answer because no two days are the same in the Secondary Student Welfare office.
One moment we might be helping a student manage stress before an upcoming test, and the next we could be celebrating a student who has overcome their anxiety to speak in front of their peers at assembly. One day, we may be running a classroom discussion about empathy; the next, we could be leading lunchtime games to foster social connections for students who are struggling to make friends. You might see us walking alongside a student, helping them find healthy ways to express their emotions, or sitting and playing chess with another as we brainstorm strategies to combat the negative thoughts that keep them up at night.
But our work isn’t limited to students. Some days, we collaborate with teachers to develop strategies to help students stay focused in class, or we meet with key Secondary staff to prepare a student for their return to school after a difficult time away. We may also assist parents as they navigate their child’s new mental health diagnosis or help students begin the process of creating a mental health care plan.
We often sit with students who are working through friendship issues, grief, loss or unexpected family illness, providing a safe space for them to talk. Sometimes, they have questions about God, justice or their purpose in life.
What we specialise in as Student Welfare is listening. We listen to our students’ concerns, worries and questions. We hear about the challenges they face, their fears, but also their hopes and passions for the future. Being a teenager is tough, so feeling seen and heard is hugely important for their development. It helps them build resilience, empathy and emotional maturity, which are key to becoming healthy adults in society.
Student Welfare walks alongside students as they navigate the complexities of adolescence, helping them build the tools they need to face life’s challenges and recognise the God-given gifts within them. And, if we’re very lucky, we get a visit from Ziva, the school dog!