Student Wellbeing

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A positive sense of wellbeing supports a base for rich learning that enables young people to flourish.

Catholic Education Melbourne 2017, Horizons of Hope, Wellbeing in a Catholic School, p.4


Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) is committed to providing safe, inclusive and respectful learning environments for all children and young people.

In partnership with schools and parishes, parents and families, we endeavour to ensure all students feel valued and cared for, have meaningful opportunities to contribute to the life of the school and broader community, and are positively engaged with their learning.

Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne promote wellbeing and human flourishing by nurturing the whole person – their spiritual, cognitive, physical, emotional and social selves. This holistic approach affirms that wellbeing is integral to learning excellence and ultimately to overall health and life success.

Student wellbeing practices, curriculum and policies in schools are grounded by Catholic teachings and traditions. They are driven by four strategic dimensions that collectively support all children and young people to develop the knowledge and skills required to nurture their own wellbeing and contribute to that of others. These dimensions endeavour to enhance student wellbeing and learning outcomes by:

  1. nurturing safe, inclusive and healthy learning environments;
  2. fostering authentic partnerships between all members of the school community;
  3. enabling children and young people to develop a strong sense of self, whereby they are empowered to grow as optimistic global citizens capable of articulating their beliefs and worldview in light of the Catholic faith and tradition;
  4. promoting innovative teaching and transformational learning that meaningfully responds to students’ interests and their needs.
 
eXcel: Wellbeing for learning in Catholic school communities
eXcel affirms Catholic Education Melbourne’s ongoing commitment to supporting ‘rich, deep and varied learning experiences’ for our students, so that they may develop as optimistic, resilient young people of faith, ready to be effective members of community, contributing to and enriching the world around them.
Catholic Education Melbourne 2018, eXcel: Wellbeing for learning in Catholic school communities

 

eXcel: Wellbeing for learning in Catholic school communities (eXcel) articulates the importance of wellbeing to children and young people’s spiritual, cognitive, physical, emotional and social growth.

MACS has developed eXcel as an explicit, practical guide to inform pedagogical practice, curriculum design and policies to strengthen children and young people’s wellbeing and learning outcomes. It explores in detail the nature and importance of wellbeing and how it is enacted in Catholic schools.

Presented as four intersecting dimensions of enable, connect, engage and learn, the first letter of each has been combined to form the overarching concept of ‘eXcel’.

eXcel equation image

eXcel builds on MACS' Horizons of Hope education framework, and its Wellbeing Foundation Statement.

eXcel encapsulates the spirit of ‘being the best we can be’ with God’s grace and embraces the belief that children and young people have the capacity to achieve their full potential when their wellbeing is nurtured in faith-filled learning environments that are safe, inclusive and respectful.

The eXcel: Wellbeing for Learning webpage provides further information.

Download the Horizons of Hope Wellbeing Foundation Statement:
Horizons of Hope wellbeing foundation statement
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Download the full guide:
eXcel: Wellbeing for learning in Catholic school communities - full guide
Download PDF

 

 

Download the overview brochure:
eXcel: Wellbeing for learning in Catholic school communities - A4 overview brochure (web)
Download PDF