“The School is aware of the need to help students and staff teach and develop coping strategies to ensure they flourish in all facets of their lives.”
Benefiting Students and Staff Alike
In 2024, the School re-established the Head of Pastoral Care position. The role will be pivotal in supporting all staff to foster a supportive and nurturing environment at Toowoomba Grammar School.
Integral to the role’s success is the parallel expansion of the Wellbeing and Character Development (WCD) program to yield multifaceted benefits for both staff and students. For staff, the Head of Pastoral Care provides guidance, support and resources, aiding in their efforts to address students’ emotional, social and behavioural needs. This support grows staff morale and job satisfaction, empowering them to perform their duties with confidence and compassion.
Simultaneously, students reap the rewards of a caring and inclusive atmosphere where their holistic development is prioritised as much as their academic needs. The Head of Pastoral Care facilitates belonging and security, encouraging positive relationships and enabling students to thrive academically and emotionally. By nurturing a culture of empathy and understanding, the Head of Pastoral Care creates an environment conducive to learning, personal growth and overall wellbeing for staff and students alike.
This year, we have commenced another phase of evolving the WCD program by utilising the Wellio platform. This platform is adaptable to the School’s needs and is based on well-informed research. It equips staff and students to progress through the stages of personal character development. Moreover, Wellio helps the School update the scope and sequence of lessons in response to relevant topics and live data.
Many guest speakers have been carefully selected to complement the WCD program. It is wonderful to be supported by so many professionals in the adolescent emotional research and wellbeing sector.
The core focus of our program units is relationships. Relationships that enhance trust and foster a sense of belonging are woven into the lessons. It is important for students to trust the staff so that they feel safe to contribute in and out of the classroom. This term has seen the Tomorrow Man service working with Year 10 and 12 students to develop their ability to have sincere and genuine conversations supported by their peers. Our Year 11s have continued their road safety awareness campaign after completing the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness program last year. They also heard presentations from the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland and Mrs Melissa McGuiness of YOU CHOOSE — Youth Road Safety. Later this term, the boys will hear from inspirational speakers such as Mr Lorin Nicholson, Mr Eric Bailey and the Character Builders team. All our guest speakers are selected to complement the WCD Program.
Latest Blog
Teacher as a Student
As a teacher at Toowoomba Grammar School, I teach mathematics and business studies, and manage the GPS Chess team. Prior to teaching, I worked as a financial analyst. Recently I have completed a master's degree in science at the University of Southern Queensland. My study was focused exclusively on data science, and I have become an expert in the management of big data with a specialisation in modelling and forecasting using machine learning techniques. The motivation for this study was…
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Healthy relationships are extremely important for the development of mental health in our youth. When you spend time with people you care about, who care about you, this can help you feel connected and supported. This term is one of the largest in regard to boys participating in activities and sports ranging from field, to court, to thought. This is in addition to music and drama programs. At Toowoomba Grammar School, we believe this allows for plenty of opportunity to develop the ability to…
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Director of Volleyball, Mr Eric Smith has spent the past 20 years at Toowoomba Grammar School not only shaping the minds of the young men in his science classroom but also working tirelessly on improving his capacity to coach volleyball to the highest level. Starting at the School in 2003, Eric quickly rediscovered his passion for volleyball, something he had not experienced since playing for Ipswich Grammar School during the ‘90s. “I felt completely at home back on the volleyball court and…
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“As a Grammar boy, you have the Blue and Gold in your blood for life. You’ve got connections and networks because of this special bond. It’s hard to describe what it is exactly; I think it stems from the history and traditions that are passed down to each generation but it’s something you carry your entire life, you’re part of this team.” – TGS Old Boy (1960-63) John Campbell, Senior Prefect 1963, Captain 1st XV Rugby 1963. John was excited to learn in a recent edition of The Blue and Gold…
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Reading is one of those activities that, the more you do, the better you get, and with the holidays fast approaching, now is the perfect time to read that book you’ve always wanted to, finish a book you’ve started or try something new. It is important to keep reading over the holidays, so that we don’t step backward in our reading journey. As the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has found, reading for pleasure is a habit that can prove essential to performing well…
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