Principal at Hennessy Catholic College, Trazel Scott believes that it is essential that all schools engage policies in supporting their students.

“It is essential that every school, large or small, has a set of policies or a framework in place to support students as they learn and grow,” Mrs Scott said. 

At Hennessy Catholic College the school has embraced their religious background to make all students feel inclusive.

“As a Catholic school, Hennessy has developed all of its policies and practices based on an active faith culture and the principles underpinning the seven Catholic Social Teachings, specifically the Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, the Dignity of the Human Person, the call to Community and Participation and Human Rights and Responsibilities,” Mrs Scott said.

Hennessy Catholic College has initiated a positive peer relations program.

“Positive peer relations are demonstrated at Hennessy through overarching programs such as the Wellbeing and Diversity Framework, the Principles of Pedagogy, Mind Matters, whole school assemblies and student leadership initiatives and can also be seen in action at Hennessy in every classroom, through a strong Pastoral Care model where students are supported through their Pastoral Care teacher, their Year Coordinator and older peer mentors and it can be seen through respectful relationships which have been developed between teachers and students in the classroom,” Mrs Scott said.

Staff at the school are constantly aware of students and their behaviours to ensure that all students comply with their positive peer relationships model.

“We ensure that Hennessy students engage in positive peer relationships and our processes and practices to support positive behaviour have been developed and refined over many years with the support and input of parents and staff and students to ensure it is responsive to the needs of our 21st-century learners,” Mrs Scott said.

“Bullying in all its forms is not tolerated in our community and we work in partnership with parents and students to ensure that if mistakes are made we work with the child or children to repair damaged relationships,” Mrs Scott said.

Following on from Hennessy Catholic College’s positive peer relations model, the school has also engaged several strategies that they believe help all students and staff.

“Currently at Hennessy, we employ a number of proven strategies supporting the premise of restorative practice,” Mrs Scott said. 

“The fundamental premise of restorative practices is that people are happier, more cooperative and productive, and more likely to make positive changes when those in positions of authority do things with them, rather than to them or for them,” she said.

“Student ownership of behaviour is our aim, it is our responsibility to ensure that when students graduate from Hennessy they are respectful, fully functioning members of the community ready to take their place in the world,” she said.

“At Hennessy, our positive peer model is dynamic, responsive and supportive of every child,” Mrs Scott said.​

Hennessy Catholic College has also implemented a new component which the school believes is complimentary to ensuring student safety at school and at home. Coupled with our restorative practices is a new digital community focus supporting young people in the safe use of technology,” Mrs Scott said. 

“We know that students must use technology in an integrated, meaningful way to become excellent digital citizens and as a community, we will be working towards a new framework to support our school-wide BYOD program in 2017. This framework will be transformative to our school community and will propel Hennessy students into the digital future,” Mrs Scott said.

Mrs Scott has one core principle and belief that she uses in every aspect of Hennessy Catholic College’s policies and strategies.

“Every child has the right to feel safe at school,” she said. “Hennessy Catholic College and Young High school have been working in partnership to support two positive wellbeing initiatives for young people in our region,” Mrs Scott said. 

Young High School is hosting a Headspace event supporting young people and their families in the region deal with mental health issues on Wednesday at the High School starting at 6.30 pm. Hennessy is offering a parent forum and student training on cyber safety on May 2 at the College. 

“Both schools recognise that happy, healthy students contribute positively to school and regional culture and we hope that we can keep affirming young people and their families through continuing to model the development of positive relationships and support in the region,” Mrs Scott said.