Learning and Wellbeing go hand-in-hand at Wesley

Wesley’s new Learning and Wellbeing program, launched in 2022, complements the IB philosophy and recognises that wellbeing and learning are inextricably linked and mutually reinforcing.

As an IB World School, we develop enquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people capable of directing their own learning, solving complex problems and engaging with others.

Our program is sequential, ensuring our mini schools (ECLC, Primary, Middle and Senior) provide pastoral and wellbeing support throughout every stage of our student’s journey.

'Just like our Wesley lion, the aim of our Learning and Wellbeing program is to empower our young people and everyone within our community to truly ROAR!' explains Head of St Kilda Road Campus, Kim Bence.

The acronym ROAR (Respect, Opportunity, Achievement and Resilience) captures the four tenets at the heart of learning and wellbeing at Wesley:

• Respect focuses on nurturing a deep sense of belonging, connection and authenticity in relationships. Students explore key themes, including respectful relationships, emotional literacy, high-quality connections, empathy and forgiveness.
• Opportunity is about embracing moments that allow students to develop strengths, talents and passions. Key themes that will be explored inside and outside the classroom include character strengths, self-determination, leadership, service-learning and spirituality.
• Achievement encourages students to define what is important to them, set goals and develop healthy habits.  They discuss habits and goals, ‘hope theory’, storytelling and coaching to learn more about achieving what matters most to them.
• Resilience helps students develop and harness their inner strengths and capabilities to successfully navigate stress and uncertainty and see challenges as opportunities to grow, learn and move forward.

Our approach to learning and wellbeing permeates everything we do. It is not simply what we teach, but how we teach, interact and connect. For students, this means:

• Curriculum designed to establish healthy and positive habits, support learning, personal growth and development and build self-confidence;
• Dedicated pastoral care classes to establish and monitor individual learning and wellbeing goals;
• Specialist, research-based programs to develop the skills of wellbeing such as compassion, gratitude, mindfulness and resilience; and
• Curriculum aligned and age-appropriate personal safety programs for every student.

Central to providing expert wellbeing support and guidance to our students is our staff. Each Wesley campus has a dedicated Head of Student Wellbeing supported by a network of staff including psychologists, school counsellors, chaplains and cocurricular staff.

'We know that wellbeing does not stop when students step outside the school gates, so we are helping to equip families with strategies to support their children,' said Kim.  After two years of a global pandemic, we see 2022 as a year of restoration and reconnection.