In the Senior School, our aim is to provide a safe, nurturing and caring environment in which students learn and grow. This involves providing support for all students in their social, emotional, spiritual and academic growth on their journey through school. There is strong evidence to suggest that individuals will best achieve their potential when they feel safe, supported and a strong sense of ‘connectedness’ within their family, at school and within the community they live.
One of the key elements of our approach to pastoral care and discipline in the school is the promotion of positive relationships amongst all members of the school community and the development of strong Parent/School partnerships. This approach is guided by the principles of ‘restorative practices’ when relationships are damaged. These principles are based on Christ’s message and are characterised by practices which avoid a focus on blame, but rather aim to restore and re-build relationships that have been damaged by conflict or misunderstandings.
Each student at TIGS will be supported by individual classroom teachers, the Pastoral Care Team (Deans and House Mentors) and the Director of Enrolments. If you need to contact relevant staff members about a pastoral care issue, use the quick reference guide below. If you wish to access more detailed information go to the relevant tabs below.
Quick reference contact guide:
For day to day academic or classroom discipline issues: classroom teacher or Head of Faculty
For guidance about student welfare, social or emotional issues or a discipline or pastoral issue beyond the classroom: The Dean of the Year or the relevant House Mentor
If a student requires additional academic or social support or has special needs: Director of Curriculum and Enrolments
For information or guidance related to Pastoral Care policies, counselling support or more serious discipline issues: Director of Pastoral Care - Mr Greg Lanyon
For Spiritual guidance or questions about Christian programs: Chaplain - Rev. James Rogers
Directorate Team Consists of:
Careers Adviser
Director of Enrolments
External Specialists (as required, see below)
Junior School Co-ordinator of Gifted and Talented
School Counsellors
Support Staff for Students with Special Needs.
Aim and Structure of Directorate
The aim of the Directorate is to offer academic, career, social, emotional and spiritual support to students. The Directorate Committee meet weekly to discuss cases and programs. The Committee includes Directorate Team , the Headmaster, Deputy Headmaster, Deans of Stages, Deputy Head and Head of Junior School.
How the Directorate Works?
- The Directorate utilises a Case Management Process.
- Parent concerns that they wish to refer to the Directorate should be directed to the class teacher in the Junior School and the Mentor Teacher in the Senior School.
- Referrals/Inquiries passed on from teachers through the Deans (P – 6) or Mentor Teachers to the Directororate.
- Cases are then considered and referred on to relevant member/s of the Directorate Team
- Feedback on case progress is provided to the referee, Class Teacher or Dean, Directorate Committee, Team and parents as required.
What the Directorate Covers?
The individual members of the Directorate Team together with the Directorate Committee are responsible for their own programs.
In addition to the programs run by the members of the Directorate, the Directorate also co-ordinates the following:
New student orientation
Overseas Students
Liaison with parents
Study skills programs Years 7 – 12
Subject selection for Years 9 and 11
Liaison with the Board of Studies to enrol students in School Certificate and HSC Exams
Co-ordination of School Certificate Grades and HSC Assessments
Co-ordination of standardised testing of students K – 12 including NAPLAN
Co-ordination of Acceleration and Gifted Education
Legalities with School Psychology Services
Junior School Prep–6 All instances of referrals to the Counsellors for P – 6 students should be done in consultation with teachers, Stage Coordinators, Executive, Directorate and parents.
Senior School 7–12 Teacher/Executive Referral should be done in consultation with the parent, Dean and Directorate. If necessary parents and outside authorities may have to be contacted. Students should be advised of this fact when they commence the counselling.
Self Referral by the student does not mean parents have to be consulted. The Dean and Directorate will need to be advised but may not need to be advised of the reason for the referral. If necessary parents and outside authorities may have to be contacted. Students should be advised of this fact when they commence the counselling.
Cognitive Assessment(including IQ Assessments) Parents should be informed prior to any standardised testing other than literacy or numeracy assessments.
External Specialists Where necessary the school may employ or refer students to external specialists including: Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologist, Vocational Psychologist, University of NSW GERRIC Centre, Medical and other specialists as needed.
Referring Children to the Directorate Parental concerns or enquiries should be discussed first with the child’s class teacher in the Junior School and the child’s Dean in the Senior School.
Pastoral Care Team Consists of:
Director of Pastoral Care - Mr Greg Lanyon
Director of Student Support and Enrolments - Mrs Moira Jefferson
School Chaplain - Rev J Rogers
Dean of each Year Group
School Counsellors
In the Senior School, a Dean is responsible for each Year group. The Dean usually remain with the students from Years 8 to 12. The Year 7 Dean does not follow through with the Year 7 cohort as they move into Year 8. The reason for this is to maintain continuity in the programs of transition of students both from the Junior School and from other schools. The Dean will often be an important contact for both parents and students.
Students in each Year group are placed in one of four or eight House Mentor Groups. The House Mentor meets is a teacher who meets with all students in the group every morning from 8.40 a.m. – 9 a.m. This is an important communication time and also is an opportunity for students and Mentors to work on a range of activities that complement their studies. The House Mentor is an important part of building connections both within the Year group and within the House.
The Dean meets with the students as part of Senior School Assembly and Chapel each week and they also conduct their own Year Meetings once a week.
The Deans, together with other members of the Pastoral Care Team, co-ordinate the Pastoral Care Programs in the Senior School.
Any parental concerns about their child's welfare and/or special needs in the Senior School should be discussed with the child's Dean in the first instance.
The following links and resources may be useful to parents, students and staff seeking information or advice about issue related to adolescent mental health, bullying, loss and grief, relationships and family.
- Dr Michael Carr-Gregg Website
- Depression Website
- Anti-bullying Website
- Cyberbullying
- Reach Out!
- Diabetes Website
- Wesley Mission - Creditline
- Wesley Mission - Lifeforce
- Kids Help Line
- Youth. NSW
- NSW Commission for Children & Young People
- Resilience Education and Drug Information
- Loss and Grief
- Asperger's Syndrome Website
2013 Deans
To contact a dean via email please follow the link noted on their name.
|
Year 7: |
Mr B Ferguson |
|
Year 8: |
Mrs N Sullivan |
| Year 9: | Ms R Zink |
| Year 10: | Ms F Fisher |
|
Year 11; |
Mr A Deck |
| Year 12: | Mr G Stutchbury |
2013 House Mentors
Year 7 House Mentors:
| Aranda: |
Mr B Keating |
| Coligan: | Ms C Brown |
| Kogara: | Mr P McIlwraith |
| Wolgal: | Mrs M Dubowski |
Year 8 House Mentors:
| Aranda: | Mr R Whitton |
| Coligan: | Mr M Dardanelli |
| Kogara: | Mrs S Esposito |
| Wolgal: | Mrs F Neal |
Year 9 House Mentors:
| Aranda: |
Mr S Madsen Mr M Wall |
| Coligan: |
Ms M Ryan Mr T Southcombe |
| Kogara: |
Mr J Tregonning Rev M Grieve |
| Wolgal: |
Mrs M Stanford Mrs L Gulabovska |
Year 10 House Mentors:
| Aranda: |
Mrs M Naito Ms D Previati |
| Coligan: |
Mr A Rout Mrs E Troiani |
| Kogara: |
Mrs J Hitchcock Mr M Sormus |
| Wolgal: |
Mr S Chamberlain Mrs A Lowe |
Year 11 House Mentors:
| Aranda: |
Mr M Toussis Mrs R Van Woerden |
| Coligan: |
Ms K Goonan Ms J Graydon |
| Kogara: |
Mrs K Baird Ms L Windsor |
| Wolgal: |
Mr S Rodgers Mrs M Sharpe |
Year 12 House Mentors:
| Aranda: |
Mrs J Locke Mrs K McPhate |
| Coligan: |
Mrs M Jakeman Mrs H McCall |
| Kogara: |
Mr B Parsons Mr B Vickers |
| Wolgal: |
Ms J McIntosh Mrs J Burton |