Supporting Student Success

A large part of our job as educators is to monitor all students; not just for academic progress, but also for how well they are doing in other areas. We look out for signs that the student might be struggling with overwhelming emotions, may be distracted by a distressing family situation or may be experiencing conflict in the year group. We observe social interactions, consider body language, facial expressions and patterns in behaviours as well as monitor attainment levels over a period of time.

Home Based Learning takes many of these tools away from us and so we have had to get creative in order to discover which of our GJS students might need a little extra or a different kind of help from the school.

You might be reassured to know that the following systems are in place and are being actively used by our team in order to ensure that we are being as responsive as possible to the needs of your children:

• Morning check in with Advisory teachers: We use this time at the start of each day to support the students in getting organised, to follow up with individual students who we may be concerned about and to have a general wellbeing check in with all members of the Advisory class.

• Fri-Yay!: This weekly event is designed to facilitate informal social interaction between students in the Advisory class, which then allows us the opportunity to potentially identify students who may not be socially integrated into their peer group.

• Wellbeing Vlog: The weekly wellbeing vlog prompts students to consider specific wellbeing strategies. Advisory teachers and counsellors often use the vlog as a discussion point during morning check-ins and Wellbeing Wednesday.

• Weekly Wellbeing Thermometer: Every Tuesday we send out a wellbeing survey to Secondary students. The data collected from these weekly surveys allows us to identify patterns, which then reveal potential issues that need to be resolved. The wellbeing thermometer allows students the opportunity to reflect on how they are feeling as well as to request a specific kind of help.

• Student Support Team Meetings: Every Wednesday, all members of the pastoral team (Advisory teachers, Heads of Year, Counsellors, the Learning Diversity specialist, the Programme Coordinators, the Dean of Students, the Principals and Curriculum Coordinator) come together to discuss the ways in which we can support student success. This meeting is really important because it allows us to communicate and collaborate as a team in supporting students who may need additional or alternative help during HBL.

• Parent Workshops: In response to data received from Secondary parents, the GJS team is preparing workshops that are designed to support our parents in specific, targeted areas of their role. On Monday 21st September, Ibu Ingrid and Ibu Joanne rolled out the first of such workshops with an introduction to the university application system. Our next workshop, on Thursday October 1st at 12pm, will focus on what parents can do to support their child during Home Based Learning.

• Student Presentations at Year Level Meetings: The GJS counsellors are also busy giving presentations to students in the monthly year level meetings, about important topics such as resilience and stress management.

Student Wellbeing Thermometer Data

The data that we receive from the weekly student wellbeing thermometer is very helpful to us; not just in identifying individual students that we need to support, but also in spotting trends across the year levels that need an immediate response.

An example of this in action is the most recent student wellbeing data, which indicated that year 9 students were feeling overwhelmed with workload. A quick investigation revealed that there were several deadlines due at the same time. The subject teachers and programme coordinator were then able to renegotiate the assessment calendar and relieve the year 9 students of some of the additional pressure that they were feeling.

University Application Process

The webinar recording video is about the University Admission Information and Tips on Writing a Personal Statement. The webinar was held for Year 12 students on Monday, September 21st at 15.00-16.00 and was open for parents.

Being the Best Supporters of our Children: A Parent Workshop

Reflecting on the results of the Parents Feedback Form sent earlier this month, the Counsellors have identified several areas of support that we might provide to GJS parents through parent workshops.

We are pleased to invite you to the first of such workshops on Thursday 1st October, between 12pm - 1pm Indonesian time.

The focus of this workshop will be on how parents can use positive communication to provide optimal support to their child during Home Based Learning. We will also explore the connection between parent wellbeing and supportive communication, and academic success of the child.

Please join us with this link at 12pm on Thursday 1st October:

https://meet.google.com/tmc-oewq-imt

We will record the meeting and share that via the HBL google site, for those of you who are not able to join us for the workshop.