Middle Years
From Small Beginnings …
Everything has a beginning, even something as phenomenal as an ocean. Oceans start small, often on higher ground, in mountains, where we call them “creeks” – they’re only little. But as the river meanders along its way, it steadily grows in width and volume – other rivers, tributaries flow into it. The way of a river follows many twists and turns but ultimately a river has a clear purpose, namely to flow into the ocean, to become part of a greater expanse of water – and the closer to the ocean it gets, the stronger the river’s waters are. That’s like your own life: you started small, a young child – but now you are growing with more force and speed, your physical and mental energy propelling you towards your purpose, namely: an adult woman or man. Adulthood is a big thing – as vast as the ocean both, in opportunities and challenges.
– Excerpt from the Year 9 Rite Journey Calling and Departure Ceremony script, 2018.
This year we have introduced a wonderful new Pastoral Care program to all our Year 9 students called The Rite Journey. The program supports students at this vulnerable stage of their lives, to transform from dependent adolescents into responsible, self-aware and resilient young adults. Last month, a heart-moving beach service named ‘The Calling and The Departure’ helped students to come together as a cohort with their teacher guides (Pastoral Care Teachers) and to reflect on and ‘throw away’ childish habits. Many tears were shed as students read the letters of encouragement their parents had written them (and I’m sure many parents wrote the letters with tears too). Students spend two 45-minute Pastoral Care lessons per week focusing on age-appropriate topics in gender based groupings as part of the program. It has received a very positive response so far.
Another first has been the introduction of our new Year 6 Peer Support Australia program facilitated by approximately 25 awesome Year 11 Peer Support Leaders during Monday Pastoral Care lessons. The Year 11s thoroughly enjoy visiting their little buddies and the Year 6s love getting to play interactive games, ask questions and get advice from their older friends. Since our Peer Leaders are facilitating an Anti-bullying unit, this fed effectively into our preparations for the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence which took place last Friday 16 March.
As a registered school, we gave time in Assembly, Chapel, Pastoral Care classes and other interactive activities here on the Ashmore Road Campus to define bullying and its impacts and to identify the strong network of support available here at Trinity.
We want all our children here at Trinity to know that God sees it all – our successes, our failures. Regardless of the mistakes we make, the suffering we go through, how far we might stray, God’s powerful and never-failing love is always there: “Mightier than the waves of the sea is His love for you” Psalm 93:4
Mrs Natalie Houston
Head of Pastoral Care, Years 6 to 12
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