Wellbeing

Our school culture is underpinned by positive and respectful relationships between all members of our school community. This is explicitly outlined in our Positive Behaviour for Learning expectations and reinforced regularly both in the classroom and at a whole school level through year meetings, recognition assemblies and targeted presentations.

Anti-bullying policy

Our school’s Anti-bullying policy outlines our approach to supporting our students through developing and maintaining these positive and respectful relationships with staff and with their peers.

For more information see our Anti-bullying plan, the Behaviour Code for students and the NSW Department of Education Anti-bullying site linked below.

• Gymea THS School Behaviour Support and Management Plan
• Behaviour Code for Students
• NSW Anti-bullying website

Active Citizens and Emerging Leaders

Active student citizenship and leadership is a valued approach at Gymea to promote a sense of unity and connectedness of all in our school community.  Active student citizens and student leaders take action to improve their community, to make a difference and in turn, support a positive learning environment.

At Gymea Technology High School our aim is to create opportunities for student voice and decision making built on valued participation and lead.  We continue to work together with students to maximise their opportunities to participate at the highest level of individual ability.

Pastoral Care

​​Pastoral Care is a provision of support for students to develop with their academic and well-being needs.  Our Pastoral Care program builds on the domains within the NSW Department of Education Well-being framework that include Student’s cognitive, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual development.

Pastoral Care is delivered once a week through a timetabled session.  Students are linked up in groups of 10-12 with a teacher who will continue with their group throughout the year.  During the session, students will have a chance to connect with their teacher and each other, discuss elements around the key themes and reflect on their own performance and growth as an individual.

Active Citizenship Programs

There are many ways that students can actively participate in their school, within everyday and learning and with activities and initiative undertaken across the school.

Regular feedback on engagement at school and with learning help provide reflection on everyday learning focused strongly on the effort and commitment to active learning as an individual and in supporting learning within their classrooms.

Students are encouraged to involve themselves in the broad range of activities and initiatives at school.  These are a mix of curriculum related activities such as Music, Dance and technologies through to whole school activities that representative sports, the Student leadership assembly, outdoor community service as examples.

Students receive acknowledgement for the contribution made to the school community and individual development through Citizenship and Leadership Awards presented at celebration assemblies and identified in semester reports.

Sorting and Solving Conflict

Sometimes students do not make the right choices in being safe and respectful and may say or do the wrong thing that causes conflict or harm to themselves or others. These choices may include things we say or do and if we do not sort it out with those involved, then the repeated behaviour can cause distress, hurt or undue pressure to another student. This is then called bullying.

We all have a responsibility to make positive choices to ensure we all enjoy a safe and respectful environment.

Wrong Choices we can make as individuals or as a group include:

Our rights in our Gymea community:

• The right to come to school and feel safe and happy.
• The responsibility to treat all members of the school respectfully.
• Make positive choices about how we act and treat each other.
• Accept responsibility for our behaviour, actions and choices  and make amends when required .
• Choose to change our behaviour when required.

What can you do to sort out behaviours that are not safe and respectful:

• Tell the other person to stop.
• Seek help and talk about it to someone you trust.
• Write your experiences and give them to a Teacher, Year Adviser, Parent, Head Teacher, Deputy Principal or someone else you trust.
• Report it to a teacher.

Being a responsible school citizen:

• Treat everyone with respect
• Accept individual differences.
• Do not participate in bystander behaviour.
• Care enough to do something about it when you see it.

Positive Behaviour for Learning

Our school’s Positive Behaviour for Learning strategy guides and supports positive behaviours that develop important social and academic outcomes in all students.  We strive to promote high standards of achievement and behaviour across our school community.

Our school’s agreed expectations were developed by staff, students and parents and clearly articulate standards and expectations for student behaviour. These are outlined in our Positive Behaviour for Learning Expectations Matrix and focus on positive behaviours that ensure students are SAFE, RESPECTFUL and SUCCESSFUL LEARNERS in all school settings.

By focusing on the individual student and their responsibilities in the learning/behaviour relationship, students are encouraged to do their best and develop confidence through positive interactions with staff and peers.

Student Achievement

Our school’s merit levels promote and recognise student achievement and success in a broad range of experiences. We recognise the importance of rewarding students who actively participate in all aspects of school, who try their best and value learning. These values demonstrate student commitment to SAFE, RESPECTFUL and SUCCESSFUL LEARNING and strengthen our school culture of belonging and success.

Digital Merits

At Gymea, students are awarded digital merits by staff across the school in all learning areas and activities. The accumulation of these certificates and awards are communicated to students and families and each processed to ensure the progression of awards continually occurs.

Merit Certificates

Students receive Safe, Respectful and Successful Learner Merit Certificates from their teachers. Students and families will receive communication throughout the term on the award of their merit certificates.

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