02 June 2023
You currently don’t have to look far to see a news article highlighting the mental health challenges faced by our society and in particular young people. Challenges such as anxiety and low social connection have impacted our young people. As a Visible Wellbeing school, St Peter’s College utilises this framework to explore some of the tools needed to support our students when they are faced with challenges, adversity and stress. Visible Wellbeing focuses on six pathways or SEARCH pathways; strengths, emotional management, attention and awareness, relationships, coping and habits and goals.
When we explore coping strategies within our explicit lessons with the students, the focus is on how we can teach resilience. The students are able to develop resilience through a range of teaching strategies. It is important for the students to face the challenge of an assessment, play in a sports competition, perform with a music group or just take the time to develop a new friendship. Resilience is the capacity to face, overcome, be strengthened and transformed by adversity. It can be a very difficult challenge to watch your child facing these challenges and adversity, but with your support they can face these head on.
One of the sections of SchoolTV that I have spent a great deal of time on has been the Positive Parenting Resilience section. This section includes suggested strategies on how adult carers can best support the development of resilience skills. Competence, confidence, connection, character, contribution, coping and control are all important aspects of the learning that occurs within our community. Here is the link to this section of SchoolTV.
If you have any further questions about supporting your child’s coping strategies, please don’t hesitate to contact myself or their class teacher.
Ben Storer
Deputy Head of Junior School – Wellbeing and Administration