Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care at Loreto is very evident. In fact, despite our outstanding academic successes, parents continue to nominate this as Loreto's greatest strength. The care of each individual is paramount in the minds of teachers. We strongly believe in working together with parents to provide the best possible environment for your daughter's total care.
Middle Years students have particular needs that are different to those of younger and older students. Therefore, at Loreto, we have developed a specific Pastoral Care program for our Middle Years students' that aims to be responsive to their changing social, emotional, academic, physical and spiritual needs. During this time of significant change and development our goal is to provide a holistic education in a safe and nurturing environment which promotes confidence, resilience, personal growth and self-esteem. We encourage our students to value and embrace diversity, to challenge injustice and take responsibility for their actions. Fundamental to our philosophy of education is the critical importance of the pastoral care of our students and all staff share responsibility for the provision of this care.
Pastoral Care in the Middle Years is supported by our class and house structures, our approach to teaching and learning, policies and procedures, as well as a comprehensive Personal Development Programme which is delivered through our home class structure. This program, which is reviewed annually with input from students and staff to ensure that it continues to be responsive to the different needs of the students in our care, aims to equip the girls with a range of skills which will assist them to make choices and decisions to better manage their lives, studies and interpersonal relationships.
The specific needs of each year level are carefully assessed and a program which addresses these needs is developed and regularly reviewed.
Students Welfare and Wellbeing
At the Heart a Love of Self
A critically important aspect of a Loreto education is that students come to know, understand and accept themselves. Self acceptance sets us free from pretence and defensiveness, free to relate honestly and affectionately, to “love our neighbour as ourselves”. Working in partnership with parents and care-givers we aim to nurture and support our students to come to terms positively with their own individuality, their own giftedness and limitations. Everyone in the school shares in this Pastoral responsibility which involves knowing, accepting, respecting and encouraging each student as individual and modeling consistency between words and actions.
Student Counsellors
The counselling role involves providing support for the emotional, social, mental and psychological wellbeing of students. At Loreto we strongly promote student wellbeing and encourage students to be proactive in seeking counselling as a support when they feel the need.
Counselling support is offered in a variety of ways including one-to-one counselling, group mediations, classroom sessions and by meeting with staff and parents.
The counselling roles are essentially supportive roles - someone to share concerns with, work through strategies and possible solutions, clarify issues, monitor wellbeing, challenge thoughts, help resolve conflicts and more.
If counsellors believe through working with a student, that she would actually benefit from more intensive therapeutic support they will suggest a referral to an external professional. Counsellors are very clear about the limits of their expertise.
Whilst counselling sessions are confidential, students are aware this confidentiality remains unless the safety of themselves (physical, emotional or psychological) or others is at risk. In these situations the counsellor assists the student to follow a necessary course of action and then offers ongoing support until an action plan is in place.
Referrals for Years 6 - 9 are generally self referrals. The girls access the referral forms via the counselling office. Appointments are generally made during lesson times, however, referrals can be made at staff or parent request. The girls can access the referral forms from outside the counselling office. Any parents or staff members who wish to talk with a counsellor in relation to any matter are encouraged to contact the counsellor by phone to set up an appointment.
