The Pastoral Care of students at the Secondary section is based on a Guild system which espouses the values of community and family so much emphasised in the Marist tradition.
Year Groups
The pastoral care system is based on year groups. There is a head of year for each year group who is responsible for the overall welfare of students in the year group. Students are divided into a number of pastoral care groups which meet each morning for fifteen minutes. During this time, the group prays together and administative duties are carried out by the pastoral care teacher. The makeup of each pastoral care group is based on the Guild to which the student belongs.
The Guild Organisation
Each student is placed into one of eight Guilds: Brigid, Camara, Catherine, Chisholm, Mackillop, Marcellin, Romero and Thomas More.
Each week the Pastoral Care Groups also meet for a period, when liturgies, assemblies or inter-Guild activities may be held. Inter-Guild competitions throughout the year encourage team spirit and a sense of community spirit. Students are encouraged to participate in and to help organise these activities.
Each year a variety of retreats, reflection days and camps are conducted, aiming to develop the personal, social and spiritual dimensions of the students.
Student Support Team
The Student Support Team consists of teachers and educational psychologists who work with the students in the areas of Personal Counselling, Vocational Education, Special Needs and Campus Ministry. Students are encouraged to access the services offered by these staff members as the need arises. Guidance may be given in such areas as career choices, organisation of their study program or study techniques, advice on personal, welfare or spiritual matters and assistance with specific learning difficulties.
Peer Support and Peer Mentor Teams
Year 11 students may be trained as members of the Peer Support Team. This Team works with Year 7 and Year 8 students as they adjust to life at Secondary. In Year 12, some of these students go on to be Peer Mentors who are available to discuss issues or problems with younger students. Part of the training for these teams emphasises the need for teacher or counsellor input if the problem is a significant one. The aim of Peer Support and Peer Mentor teams is to help students feel supported by a peer if they experience difficulties and to receive advice as to possible solutions to problems.
