Pastoral Care

The foundation principle of "Family Spirit", is central to Pastoral Care at St Teresa's Catholic College. We utilise a Vertical Pastoral Care system, which provides the opportunity for students to interact more fully with one another in a peer support model. Each student belongs to a House Group which meets each day, as well as a fortnightly lesson known as Learning Matters. The House Group Leader of this group works to build quality relationships within the group, and to carefully monitor the individual needs of the students in their care. Parents are encouraged to maintain regular contact with their child's House Group Leader. Overseeing these House Groups is the Head of House.

An essential element of Pastoral Care, is ensuring clear behavioural expectations are communicated and maintained, with appropriate action taken where necessary. These expectations are set out in the Behaviour Management Policy, and the various behaviour levels and consequences associated with each behaviour level.

The principles of Restorative Justice underpin all behaviour management strategies at St Teresa's in an attempt to maintain quality relationships within the community.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me.” John 10:14

The religious and spiritual dimensions of the school are supported by an attention to the pastoral care of all who form the community. It is respectful of the dignity of every person. In planning for St Teresa's Catholic College, which expresses a priority for pastoral care in its ethos, are the following principles:

Pastoral care is for staff, students and parents
All staff are involved in pastoral care
Each child is an individual with particular needs
The welcoming and inclusion of students with additional educational needs within the school community involves a commitment to providing particular services and support.
Pastoral care permeates every phase of the school day
Pastoral care emerges from the personal, social and religious needs of the community

St Teresa's College expresses in its school climate, structures, student management practices, pastoral concern for all especially the disadvantaged, and a respect for the harmony within creation that the spirituality of pastoral care is especially valued within its community.