Wellbeing at Blackfriars is informed by and given its spirit by the school’s place as a part of the evangelical ministry of the Church.
A Catholic school is, in essence, the face of Christ for its whole community and its pastoral role needs to infuse every aspect of its operation and its relationships. The life of every human person is seen to have a God given value and meaning which is enhanced, as Vatican II reminds us, in a school community whose atmosphere is permeated with the Gospel spirit of Freedom and Love.
Wellbeing at Blackfriars is supported by all staff, throughout the whole school week, as we strive to provide an environment for students that they can feel safe, enthusiastic and confident to achieve their best in all areas of life. Like any subject area, skills to develop personal wellbeing are learnt and developed by all of us.
Blackfriars has developed a handbook to outline the key elements of the school’s wellbeing program, from Early Learning to Year 12. The Wellbeing Handbook for Boys can be downloaded below.
Wellbeing dog
In 2023, Blackfriars has welcomed its first wellbeing dog, Albi. Blackfriars has worked with Dogs Connect to introduce Albi – named for St Albert the Great – to our school.
When fully integrated into the school environment, Albi, an Australian Cobberdog, will provide emotional support, give people an opportunity for connection and assist children with emotional regulation and communication.
According to Dogs Connect, wellbeing dogs decrease anxiety in the majority of staff and students within a school. You can read more about Albi and her role at Blackfriars in our Newsroom.
