The Kilmore International School: Wellbeing program teaching appreciation

THE Kilmore International School has expanded its wellbeing program, aiming to give students even more opportunity to succeed academically and build resilience.

New focus: The Kilmore International School has expanded their wellbeing program over the past two years to include new curriculum and new staff members.

THE Kilmore International School has expanded its wellbeing program, aiming to give students even more opportunity to succeed academically and build resilience.

To guide development of the new wellbeing program, the school launched an “appreciative inquiry” with students, staff and families to identify what they value the most about TKIS.

School psychologist Nicole Melder said the inquiry helped identify TKIS’s “positive core” strengths so it could design a wellbeing approach that would achieve an effective, sustainable future.

Director of student wellbeing Philippa Kirwan said feedback from students, parents, and staff showed “our community embraces the diversity of its members, celebrates its connection to local and global communities and makes a commitment to achieving personal and academic excellence”.

With those values in mind, the school’s new wellbeing curriculum is delivered every week in homeroom classes.

In primary and middle school, students build upon their existing strengths and learn skills to help deal with life’s challenges. Through games, group activities and projects, students learn strategies for good decision-making, friendship building, self-regulation, conflict resolution and approaches to learning.

In senior school, the wellbeing curriculum is led by an academic leadership team that ensures careers, the International Baccalaureate learner profile traits, self-management and advanced approaches to learning are embedded in the homeroom program. This program complements the IB academic curriculum, which is taught exclusively during senior years.

“We know success means achieving your personal best,” Ms Kirwan said. “Our mission is to provide educational excellence to all students. This means offering a rigorous academic program with community service as well as helping our students develop lifelong skills for success. We want our kids to live rich and productive lives in relationship with others.”

The 450-student school attracts 60 per cent Australian and 40 per cent international boarding students. Located 60km north of Melbourne, the school offers activities including camps, excursions, and sporting and academic programs that help students connect with one another.

“Our boarding students may face additional hurdles because living away from family can be challenging,” dean of international students Imelda Lapthorne said. “Our wellbeing provision helps to enhance their ability to thrive.

“For example the Skills for Success tutorials offered to new boarding students help our kids adapt to the boarding culture, build relationships with peers and know how to meet academic requirements.”

The New Frontiers program helps new students find friends with whom they share a common experience.

The Kilmore International School is also exploring new frontiers with their enhanced emphasis on wellbeing and provision of education that is holistic, student-centred and strengths driven.

“Wellbeing is a vital ingredient for success in all areas of our lives,” Ms Lapthorne said. “We seek to empower our students to live up to their potential, and to live happy and fulfilled lives.”