Wellbeing Team
The Wellbeing Team consists of a range of staff members to best support the College Community. The Wellbeing Team includes:
Leader of Academic Care and Wellbeing
The Leader of Academic Care and Wellbeing is a senior member of the College Leadership Team, playing a key role in shaping the college’s vision, mission, and strategic direction. They work directly with the Assistant Principal to oversee student wellbeing, pastoral care, and student management systems. This leadership position focuses on creating a supportive and effective learning environment by collaborating with Year Coordinators (both Wellbeing and Academic), as well as liaising with the broader Leadership Team, KLA Coordinators, and staff on all matters affecting student organization, wellbeing, pastoral care, and management.
Academic Care and Wellbeing Coordinators
The 6 Academic Care and Wellbeing Coordinators are an integral part of the Wellbeing Team, collaborating with other middle leaders involved in student wellbeing and the College Counsellor.
Together, they contribute to enhancing student outcomes across social, emotional, spiritual, and academic domains. Additionally, the Academic Care and Wellbeing Coordinators works alongside Key Learning Area middle leaders as part of the broader middle leadership team, ensuring a collaborative approach to supporting the well-rounded development of all students.
Student Leadership
Integral to Faith and Care are opportunities for students to participate in Service Leadership based on the model provided by Jesus Christ, incorporating a focus on increasing levels of recognition of the needs of others. As a ‘Peace School’ who strives to “Live the Truth”, we focus on the Christian/Presentation values as we work to fulfil our Vision and Mission.
The service leadership opportunities are designed to give a sense of perspective, and provide growth of leadership skills and capacity over the years at the College. Each leadership opportunity incorporates awareness of important issues, practical projects to raise the profile of these issues relevant at each level to the whole College community and for some fundraising activities.
The positions below all involve active engagement, from the elected student, in the College Student Representative Council (SRC).
As part of the Student Leadership structure, Year 12 students are elected to the following positions:
- College Captains – 2 students
- House Captains – 6 students, with one representative from each House
- Boarding House Captains – 2 students
- Portfolio Leaders – between 6 and 8 students, with portfolios reflective of the student need, interest and passion of that particular year.
In addition to these representative opportunities for students in Year 12, the College community also elects students to fulfil the following positions:
- Years 10 and 11 House Vice Captains (12 in total; 6 per year group, equally representing the 6 Houses)
- Years 7 to 9 SRC representations (one per year per House)
Counselling
As part of the Wellbeing Team, we have two counsellors on site throughout the fortnight. The College Counsellors assist students in matters that are impacting on their wellbeing both within and outside of school. The work of the College Counsellors supplement the involvement of external service providers.
It is important to remember that College counselling is not always the most appropriate or only option. There are times where specialist services are more appropriate. Seeking advice from a relevant healthcare professional is a great first step.
To access the College Counsellors, students or parents/guardians will need to contact their Academic Care and Wellbeing Coordinator. The ACWC will then submit a referral through the Wellbeing Team. From there, the Team will discuss who is best to assist in supporting the student.
Coaching
On Monday mornings the whole school meets to start the week and highlight successes, opportunities and events.
Tuesday to Friday mornings began with coaching time, a half hour in homegroup teams to prepare for the learning and challenges of the day. Self-regulated students get straight to work. Staff support students to identify and start the most important work.
Students variously work on assessment tasks, on-line literacy and numeracy tools, reading, coaching conversations and more. Staff work to ensure that those who most need support get disproportionate access to expert assistance.
Students have the opportunity to work with a coach (Homegroup teacher of Academic Care and Wellbeing Coordinator) to make a learning plan. The plan is shared with all teachers of the students and, with the Intervention and Wellbeing teams, to ensure a collective responsibility for student learning and wellbeing.
Coaches monitor student attendance and work with Academic Care and Wellbeing Coordinators, the Wellbeing and Intervention teams, parents and students to improve student attendance.
House Patrons
Each of these people are inspirational. They came from all around our world and were committed to the same message that Christ taught. They promoted love and stood for peace and justice. Several were prepared to give their lives for it.
It is fitting that we hold their names high and dedicate them to represent each of the Houses at Kildare Catholic College.
Benedicta
Born Edith Stein was the first female philosophy teacher in Germany. She was a brilliant academic. She converted to Catholicism and became Sister Benedicta of the Cross, as a Cermelite sister. She wanted to search for the truth and, like our motto says, to live the truth. She died in Auschwitz during the Second World War and she has been recently canonised.
Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi promoted non-violence as a universal principle and love as the strongest force for helping people towards living the truth of who they really were. He taught us to search for the truth and to trust in God. He has been named Man of the Millenium.
King
Martin Luther King was an African American who was a passionate advocate for peace and the non-violent protest against the various segregation laws across the USA. His speeches were inspirational; he had a dream that we might promote the equality of all men and women and that we might be judged by our character, not by the colour of our skin.
Oodgeroo
Oodgeroo, from the Noonuccal tribe, was the first Aboriginal woman to have her work published. We may know her as Kath Walker. Her poetry spoke of her hope for peace and understanding between black and white Australians.She actively promoted the brotherhood and sisterhood of all Australians. She earnestly sought reconciliation for indigenous people.
Romero
Mahatma Gandhi promoted non-violence as a universal principle and love as the strongest force for helping people towards living the truth of who they really were. He taught us to search for the truth and to trust in God. He has been named Man of the Millenium.
Teresa
Mother Teresa was humble and Christ-like and promoted the dignity of each human being. She was a Nobel Peace Prize winner and, in 2016, was canonised as a saint; Saint Teresa of Calcutta.