VSV is expanding its social and emotional learning program for students from next year. The successful Year 8-9 program will soon be hitting the screens of students in Years 7-10.
The program is part of the Department of Education and Training’s Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships curriculum. The main aim of the program is to enhance our students’ social, emotional and positive relationship skills.
Students will cover eight topics:
- Emotional literacy
- Personal strengths
- Positive coping
- Problem solving
- Stress management
- Help seeking
- Gender and identity
- Positive Gender Relationships.
The course will largely be delivered in live, weekly online lessons by students’ Learning Advisors.
Caddy Auld, Instructional Leader, Health and Physical Education, said the lessons will be highly collaborative and provide students with opportunities to meet and work with other students.
‘The lessons will provide a forum for students to discuss a range of thoughts, emotions, and behaviours that reflect positive social and emotional outcomes.’
She also said there will be regular communication with parents/carers about the course, providing them with conversational cues to better engage with their children on these topics.
‘VSV is focused on the team around the learner. We recognise that teachers, community, practitioners and parents/carers all have an important role to play in the development of students.’
Caddy said she is very excited about the expansion of the program.
‘I’m really passionate about this initiative and the idea that every teacher is a teacher of social and emotional learning. Not only will it better prepare teachers and parents/carers for potentially difficult conversations with students, but it will also empower our students to not feel alone at times when they may not feel understood.
‘Teaching our students how to become more resilient and create respectful relationships is a skill that is valuable at any age. If we can help our students model these behaviours, then they will role model them for others.
‘I’m very proud to be part of this program which helps VSV shape well-rounded students. Our students will be better off going into the world from this program,’ she enthused.
Photo of tree by Brandon Green
