There is no doubt that students have shown amazing resilience throughout this semester. This is demonstrated through the outstanding achievements of students across all year levels. Our Year 12 Big Sisters have led the way in leading by example and welcoming their Year 7 Little Sisters. Not only so, they have shown a great capacity for managing change and coping with adversity. It is essential to personal wellbeing that we recognise and applaud the capacity of our young people to ‘just get on with it’, as demonstrated during time here at Siena.
Parents have always been instrumental in supporting their children to cope with the ups and downs. The partnership we have with parents is never taken for granted and we are extremely grateful for the support we receive. Parents more than anyone else would be aware that the mental health of young people has been significantly impacted by the disrupted learning and social interaction over the last two years. As many families settle back into pre-COVID routines, there seems to be a pervasive sense of optimism about what lies ahead.
Unfortunately, our young people are not immune to what is now being termed as the 'psychological pandemic'. Some young people are at risk of not achieving the primary demands of developmental tasks such as procuring independence, identity formation, as well as obtaining and maintaining peer relationships. What they need most in the current environment is support, understanding, empathy and encouragement from caring adults. They live up or down to the expectations we set for them.
If there is a panacea to the adversity caused by the pandemic, then it is the building of resilience. Resilience is the capacity to face, overcome, be strengthened and transformed by adversity. Never before, have parents needed the skills, knowledge and strategies to build resilience in their children as much as they do now. There are seven integral and interrelated components that make up being resilient that can help young people thrive and develop healthy coping strategies.
Siena staff have been working proactively to support the individual needs of all students and to build resilience alongside their social and emotional capacity. Resilience is more than just overcoming challenges and coping, it is also about flourishing. As such, we provide opportunities for students to identify the stressors they may face in their lives and offer some positive coping strategies for them to implement.
This Special Report explores the '7 Cs of Resilience' and includes suggested strategies on how adults can best facilitate them. If at any time, you have particular concerns regarding your daughter, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We have continued to work towards compliance with the eleven new Victorian Child Safe Standards which will come into effect on Friday, 1 July 2022.
This month, the following policies were filed with and approved by the College Policy Committee. They will now be forwarded to the College Board for ratification and will be available on the College website. We are also looking to add these new policies to the Siena Central Parent Zone for parents to access.
