Overview
Balgowlah Boys has developed a whole school integrated approach to welfare across Years 7 – 12.
These programs are aimed at sequentially building and developing key skills, knowledge and understanding as the boys progress through high school.
Camps and outdoor recreational activities, guest speakers, seminars, workshops and drama performances cover areas and topics targeted to particular Year groups and are coordinated by the Welfare team. Areas cover the development of self-esteem, resilience and tolerance, messages about anti-bullying and drug danger, how to develop good study skills, coping with stress, and ways to positively resolve conflict.
The overarching focus is on encouraging self-belief, self-direction and self-responsibility in preparation for life beyond school.
Welfare Team
The Deputy Principals co-ordinate and lead the welfare team at Balgowlah Boys’.
The team consists of:-
Year Advisers
Assigned to each year as a first point of contact for boys or parents who have any concerns regarding school. Year Advisers work closely with their Year Group and monitor academic programs and co-ordinate a number of co-curricular activities.
School Counsellor
A trained school counsellor provides adolescent counselling, co-ordinates diagnostic testing and provides advice to both students and parents
Support Teacher Boys
Works closely with targeted boys to develop individual behaviour programs and support
Rock and Water - Anti Bullying Program
This program offers teachers a new way to interact with boys through physical and social teaching. Physical exercises are constantly linked with mental and social skills. The program leads from simple self-defence, boundary and communication exercises to a strong notion of self-confidence. The program offers a frame network of exercises and ideas about boys and manhood to assist boys to become aware of purpose and motivation in their life. Topics include: intuition, body language, mental strength, empathic feeling, positive thinking and positive visualising. Discussing topics such as bullying, sexual harassment, homophobia, life goals, desires and following an inner compass increase the boys confidence and will help them through life.
At BBHS, we are in our third year of teaching Rock and Water. Three year 7 classes currently attend 1 lesson per week, where they participate in fun, physical and confidence building activities. Classes begin with a warm up game of elimination or chain tag. Students are then taught a variety of self-defence exercises incorporated into games or competitions. Discussions relate the activities to issues such as respect, self-awareness, bullying and study skills. Sessions end with breathing/meditation, which helps students, increase their self-control and to relax, better able to focus in the next class. Accredited teachers have trained all Rock and Water teachers at BBHS and all are very enthusiastic about the program as they observed the students progress.
