Health and Well Being

Mental and physical health are paramount for a successful education. Preshil’s carefully constructed pastoral care program provides a safety net for all students. Across the junior secondary years, the Years 7 and 8 Coordinator leads a teaching team that gets to know the individual needs of all Year 7 and 8 students.

In the middle years Forums are introduced. All students are assigned to smaller Forum groups and their Forum teacher is their first point of call. In VCE, the Trackers form the pastoral care team that guides students during their final years of schooling.

At all levels, the School Counsellor supports both students and teachers, providing a caring and professional service for all those requiring extra guidance at given times in their secondary years.

Health and Wellbeing are topics worked directly into the curriculum. Resilience is taught as a subject in Years 7 & 8 and Health is a compulsory part of the Year 9 and 10 curriculum.

All students in Years 7 to 10 take Physical Education as part of their weekly curriculum to enhance understanding of health and the value of exercise. A commitment is made to teach students how to make fitness a life-long practice.

Physical Education

Preshil has produced many professional sports men and women however the school has never promoted fierce competition. Games are played with an emphasis on participation and enjoyment rather than competition and winning. The final score is important but soon forgotten.

Physical and outdoor education is based on a developmental approach so different activities are emphasised at different ages. There are formal games and activities as well as informal play where materials and equipment are available for use by the children. The emphasis is always to promote physical health, balanced wellbeing and a life-long enjoyment of physical and outdoor activity.

In response to student-led requests and initiative, Preshil is happy to help arrange a school team to compete in any sport. In the past, students have instigated the formation of successful Preshil basketball, skiing and cricket teams among others. Preshil does not require students to participate in competitive sport, but will support students with the desire to play competitive sport to follow their interests.

Pastoral and Counselling Services

Preshil offers a free consultation for parents regarding emotional or social difficulties experienced by students. Parents are welcome to discuss parenting issues and their child’s development at any time, and to use the service as a reflective space and sounding board.

For the majority of primary-aged children, parental consultation with teachers is generally the outcome. Support and advice to both parents and staff is also offered at secondary levels. Direct counselling with individuals and occasional mediation sessions between students in upper primary levels also takes place when required. In secondary levels the consultation continues for parents and staff, with more time allocated for individual counselling as the students mature into their secondary years and their needs evolve.