A Holistic Approach
Taking a holistic approach, we address the cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and psychological needs of girls as they navigate their way through childhood and adolescence. For this to be successful, we acknowledge that every Wenona educator must also be a teacher of wellbeing and committed to:
- Instilling a deep understanding of our School Motto and Values
- Cultivating strong, supportive teacher-student relationships
- Encouraging healthy peer interactions and connections
- Building robust partnerships with families
- Facilitating meaningful engagement with the broader community.
School-Wide Wellbeing
Central to this is our extensive, formal Wellbeing Program, complemented by School-wide attention to our students’ pastoral care and development from Kindergarten to Year 12.
The Program is delivered by a protective network of Junior School classroom teachers and Middle School, Upper School, and Senior College Wellbeing teachers, along with Year Coordinators and Heads of School. It is an approach grounded in cutting-edge research and best practices:
- We are proud members of the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning, a world-renowned leader in Social and Emotional Learning research.
- Wenona actively contributes to the Association of Independent Schools' wellbeing research initiatives. This allows us to conduct active research within our own School environment, collecting and analysing data, to drive the development of wellbeing approaches tailored to the unique needs of our students, while contributing to the broader educational community.
As a result, our students have a greater sense of belonging and are buffered from negative influences. They have the confidence to take risks, learn from setbacks, and navigate the complexities of adolescence with greater ease and security.
Counselling Services
Wenona’s commitment to the care and support of our students includes a comprehensive counselling service, which is available to all students from Kindergarten to Year 12. Our five-member Student Wellbeing Team includes clinical psychologists who can provide support and practical help for students experiencing emotional, behavioural, or family issues, including grief, stress, social problems, or mental health concerns. Liaising with parents, teaching staff and external professional health providers, the Student Wellbeing Team ensures the needs of students are met while protecting the privacy and dignity of girls and their families.
Inclusive Education
At Wenona, diversity is recognised, valued, encouraged, and catered for. Students arrive with a wide range of abilities and challenges and are welcomed into an environment where they feel valued and supported, to achieve their best. Our staff are trained to cater to diverse learning needs and we have the resources and expert support required to tailor learning to different styles and capabilities.
Our Wellbeing Team monitors each girl’s development and can access further specialist help, where required, to ensure students can grow into confident, capable ‘Renaissance women’.
Wenona’s wellbeing initiatives include a wide range of opportunities for physical fitness:
- An award-winning Athletics and Wellness Centre
- Yoga and dance studios
- Olympic-size swimming pool
- Cardio Studio overseen by skilled instructors.