Wellbeing
Wellbeing includes things such as relationships, resilience, meaning, positive emotions, engagement and physical health.
Equipped and shaped
for future success.
We believe that caring for and developing the whole student within an environment of Christian care is essential.
Wellbeing includes things such as relationships, resilience, meaning, positive emotions, engagement and physical health. Research has shown us that given the right tools, a person can learn the skills and strategies that can help strengthen their wellbeing no matter what is happening in their lives.
At Penrith Anglican College we intentionally invest in our students’ wellbeing, creating a nurturing campus where students can grow emotionally, spiritually, socially and physically while striving for their academic goals.
...given the right tools, a person can learn the skills and strategies that can help strengthen their wellbeing no matter what is happening in their lives.
At the College, we believe that humans are made in the image of God, and so all human life is valuable, deserving of care and respect. We believe that humans were created to be in relationship with God and that they have been given capacities which can flourish by God’s grace. We know that God loves and values every individual and yearns for them to live their life for him and flourish in their environment. Motivated by the example of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, our ultimate model, we encourage students to value themselves, relationships with others and ultimately their relationship with God.
We equip our students to strengthen their wellbeing through implementing an evidence-based Pre K-12 Student Wellbeing Framework that utilises the wisdom of Positive Education in conjunction with the best practice in teaching and learning.
Through an age-appropriate structured, Christian approach we equip students to better understand and value themselves, to strengthen their resilience and know and employ strategies that build their individual wellbeing.
With younger students we teach them to identify and understand their emotions. Understanding one’s character strengths and the power they hold when used deliberately can be key to building one’s wellbeing.
We help students to build positive relationships and to establish authentic connections, learning from the relationships modelled by Jesus Christ. Students learn the importance of all facets of communication and to value their peers, recognising the uniqueness of each individual. Developing skills of empathy and practising collaborative skills assists students to learn the importance of teamwork and encouragement in a wide range of contexts.
We want our students to value giving and serving others in the wider and global community, inclusive of being good stewards of the Earth. Having built leadership skills, students are encouraged to give back to the benefit of all. Students are empowered to face challenges and embrace opportunities to use their unique gifts for the greater good.
The College seeks to equip our students in having skills and knowledge to strengthen their individual wellbeing, build positive relationships with others and value the opportunities to serve and give back to the community.
Mentor Groups
The Secondary School’s Mentor Groups are House-based groups of students with mentor teachers. Mentor Groups meet regularly during the week enabling the development of an authentic relationship and individualised care from each student’s Mentor Teacher.
Mentor groups provide regular interaction with students from different year groups mirroring the diversity of ages, skills and personalities that students will find in the workplace and further education. We find that these groups encourage new friendships, and in some cases can aide in reducing peer pressure.
Penrith Anglican College aims to educate the whole child through age appropriate, evidence-based activities, proven to strengthen student wellbeing. Through a variety of activities in Mentor Groups, students have opportunities to develop new skills, while improving their ability to contribute to the College and wider community.
For more information about Mentor Groups, download our FAQ document or view the questions below.
Helpful Answers to commonly asked questions
A Mentor Group is a House based Group of students with a teacher who acts as their Mentor. There are between 17 – 22 students across Years 7 – 12 all from the same House. Mentor Groups meet every Monday, Friday and every second Tuesday for 30 minutes just before Recess.
Siblings are placed in the same House so that families are always cheering for the same House. They will also be in the same Mentor Group in Secondary School.
Mentor Groups follow a program that aims to equip and guide students in their progress through College. The format of the Program is:
- Check-in Mondays; students spend the time planning, goal setting and reflecting upon the week ahead.
- Tuesdays alternate between a House Meeting and a topical based discussion activity within Mentor Groups focusing on how we can be more resourceful, resilient, reflective and relational learners.
- Wednesdays alternate between a Secondary Assembly and Year Meetings (where cohortbased matters are explored).
- Thursdays is our Chapel service.
- Tournament Fridays; team building events and challenges that are competitive between Mentor Groups as well as being a lot of fun.
Each Mentor Group does over time create its own culture so that things like the celebration of
birthdays, preparation for House events such as Carnivals or academic demands such as subject
choice discussions will also occur when appropriate.
Every student has daily contact with their own mentor, enabling individualised care as their Mentor can closely monitor any changes in behaviour etc. Regularly meeting in Mentor groups allows for authentic relationships to build between students and also with their Mentor.
The Mentor Group Program aims to equip our students with skills needed for helping students to thrive at the College and beyond that in their future. Through the activities, students have opportunities to develop new skills as well as improve their abilities to contribute to the College and wider community. Penrith Anglican College aims to educate the whole child through age appropriate, evidence-based activities that have been proven to strengthen student wellbeing.
Mentor Groups allow for potential barriers between different year groups to be broken down. Regular interaction with students from different years allow new friendships to grow and, in some cases, can aide in reducing peer pressure. In a way, Mentor Groups also mirrors the workplace and further education groups due to the wider range of ages, experiences, skills, opinions and expertise that combine to make each group.
The combination of different year groups within each Mentor Group allows for reciprocal opportunities of leadership, caring, mentoring, support and for friendships to grow. Younger students benefit from insights into the future from the older students, learning tips on how to best organise their time and prepare well for busy academic periods. Older students can assist younger students in broadening their perspectives on specific concerns. Older students are able to gain confidence in helping to guide younger students. Older students also benefit from leadership opportunities during the Mentor Group sessions. All students benefit from reflection on their personal growth whilst progressing through the Mentor Group Program.
If you have a concern regarding your child that is subject related, then the classroom teacher is the first point of contact. For more general concerns please contact your child’s Mentor who will either assist you or pass on your concern to the appropriate staff member.
The College also has a full-time Counsellor on-site who is available to speak to students and parents. Please contact our Counsellor Mr Jon Wright to make an appointment at [email protected]. Students may come to Student Reception at any time to speak to Mr Wright.
