Pastoral care refers to action taken within a school to promote and enhance the personal, social, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being of our students, families and staff. We aim to develop positive feelings and attitudes, positive relationships with others, resilience, satisfaction with self and engagement in learning. Pastoral Care at St Joseph’s School means enhancing the dignity of each person within our school community. It is concerned with maximising learning and growth and developing the beliefs, values, attitudes, knowledge, skills and practices of each member of this community within a caring environment that is totally committed to supporting and living the Catholic principles and ideals.
Some of the pastoral care approaches we use at St Joseph’s include:
- Embedding the Making Jesus Real approach, which encourages and expects kindness, a positive attitude, courage, responsibility and respect of others.
- Getting to know each child including their interests, talents, challenges and family background.
- Developing healthy, positive and supportive relationships between students and staff.
- Encouraging students to recognise their talents and to believe in themselves.
- Providing support for students to develop interpersonal and relationship skills.
- Encouraging students to have a voice in their school experience.
- Implementing the full Western Australian curriculum, modifying it to suit the children by providing for specific needs, catering for individual differences and valuing the uniqueness of every student.
- Encouraging the individuality of children, including addressing them by name, taking time to listen and making realistic demands which recognise a variety of abilities and qualities.
- Implementing the Keeping Safe curriculum to ensure all students have an understanding of healthy relationships and how to keep themselves safe