Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) develops the skills to recognise and manage emotions, demonstrate caring and concern for others, establish positive relationships, make responsible decisions, and handle challenging situations effectively. These capabilities in turn benefit all learning and will impact capacity for well-being and happiness within the individual. Good Counsel College explicitly teaches SEL with students from Year 7 – 10, undertaking one lesson per fortnight.
In recent years, the college has also initiated a senior Personal Development program for students in Year 11 & 12. SEL & PD programs are implemented with a year-specific focus and are integrated at camps, retreats and year level meetings.
A general overview for each year level includes:
Year 7
- Transition to high school
- College values
- Personal identity:
Self-Image
Strength & personal character - Respectful Relationships:
– Relationships & social media
– Friends
– Beliefs around relationships
– Communication
– Managing jealousy
– Empathy and compassion - eSafety
Year 8
- College values
- Respecting and accepting diversity
- Media and technology:
eSafety
Cyber bullying
- Dignity of the human person
- Respectful relationships, bullying and gender:
Showing respect in relationships
Gender and gender stereotypes
Harassment
Year 9
- The Successful Mind:
Growth mindset
Character strengths
Goal setting
Time management
Mindfulness - Media and technology:
Pornography
Sexting - Life and relationships:
Healthy relationships
Consent and respect
Love and control
Relationship red flags - eSafety – the law
Year 10
- Goal setting
- My Career Match – career and personality profiling
- Work readiness:
Resumes and cover letters
Mock interviews
Work experience - Life and relationships:
Body language
Marriage and family
Sex and gender
- Dignity in our community
- Love Bites – Respectful Relationships (one-day program)
Year 11
- Goal setting and study techniques for Senior School
- Recognising and maintaining healthy, respectful relationships
- Strategies to deal with challenging relationships
- Respecting and embracing diversity
- Exploring career pathways
- Leadership
- Leadership at Good Counsel College
- Making mature decisions in social settings
- Senior studies information
Year 12
- Making change
- Goal setting and self-assessment
- Embracing diversity
- Senior studies information
- Preparing for life after school
Moving out of home – rental rights, hidden costs
Budgeting
Finance
Superannuation - Preparing for life after school
- Preparing for external exams
- Being a responsible and safe young adult