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The Somerville House spirit will be felt the moment your child walks through the front gates. As a Christian school operating under the governance of the Presbyterian and Uniting Churches, our students are supported in a safe, caring environment. Our students are supported on their journey through our Positive Wellbeing program, Christian Education programs and Chapel services.
Somerville House strives to develop in students an understanding and appreciation of Christian beliefs and practices based on the bible and Christian traditions. The culture of Somerville House encourages the School community to act as a community of care, modelled on the servant leadership of Jesus Christ, encouraging moral responsibility and personal involvement in service to the wider community. By being part of this community, students see the practical outworking of faith in Jesus Christ.
Christian Education is a core subject for all students with one to two lessons provided each week depending on the year level. Students explore five main areas of study:
The program covers biblical themes and contemporary issues, focussing primarily on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and their application to life in a complex and demanding world. Students also learn about other world religions and belief systems in a context of understanding and respect.
Worship is central to the life of the School and opportunities are provided for formal worship through school assemblies, year level Chapel services, annual sub-school Family Worship Services and weekly services for our boarders.
Day students meet for worship in year levels or house groups approximately twice each term, while boarders worship each week in the School Chapel.
Chapel services and assembly devotions include songs, scripture, prayer, teaching and reflection.
Chaplains, teachers, students and parents conduct ministry in the School, with the Chaplains assuming overall responsibility.
Students may further their understanding and commitment to the Christian faith through fellowship groups, SUPAClub in the Junior School and Somercircle in the Senior School. These groups meet for faith exploration, discussion and other activities during lunch times. Social functions, camps, community service activities and leadership training also occur outside school hours.
The Culture of Care Framework has as its foundation a commitment to ethos, our values, beliefs and teachings and it draws from our motto, Honour Before Honours. It blends academic, social and emotional learning with character and wellbeing, preparing students with skills for a life of meaning and purpose. This framework provides a guide on the way of life at Somerville House and focusses on the holistic development of each student, intellectually, emotionally, socially, culturally and spiritually.
The Somerville House Wellbeing Framework – CULTURE OF CARE is our way of being and is embedded in our School culture. Positive social and emotional wellbeing at Somerville House encompasses all students, staff, parents and members of our community. We focus on positively shaping the future of our students: the way they think and perceive themselves and others, and the world around them, to grow the values of courage, compassion, inclusion, integrity, gratitude and respect. We live these values which are based on our Christian foundations and a Christian understanding of the world. They are encapsulated in our motto: Honour Before Honours. We see them in our classrooms, in corridors, in our Boarding House, on the playing fields, on the stage and in our greetings and communication.
We recognise that wellbeing plays a vital role in curriculum and life success. It is palpable to visitors and tangible to those on campus. We see and hear each student, helping them to find and write their story now and into the future.
We strive to educate students to be brave - to initiate ideas and meet and challenge modern complexities of their lives and their futures. We create a safe environment where students are not afraid to make mistakes, where they develop help-seeking behaviours to become confident, curious and connected to their purpose. We encourage students to stand up and speak out for right.
Our approach is proactive, responsive and supportive. It is flexible to meet student needs by strengthening character, building belonging and connections, and strategically building skills to manage life's challenges within age and stage specific contexts. This builds resilience and educates students for a life of meaning to become people of honour - leaders of positive change.
Now more than ever with constant change resulting from trending world, national and local social, economic and political circumstances, it is important to create a wellbeing language and understanding, that focusses intentionally on an authentic wellbeing culture. This provides a platform to enable our students to reach out and help others in service and to accept and embrace diversity. We embrace a culture of care based on our understanding of the value of all individuals within an ecumenical context.
The CULTURE OF CARE FRAMEWORK guides age and stage specific social and emotional wellbeing programs across the School from Pre-Prep to Year 12 managed and supported by all staff, including dedicated wellbeing staff such as the Dean of Students, Associate Dean of Students, Chaplains, Head of Boarding, Assistant Head of Junior School – Pastoral Care, Heads of Year, Year Co-ordinators, School Psychologists and Careers Counsellor, Health Centre Manager and registered nurses. It links to our academic framework - Cultures of Thinking.
Such a strong focus on wellbeing builds individual and collective learning capacity to help students to strive, to flourish, to connect, collaborate and explore creative possibilities, positively view challenge and failure, and use their voices to achieve positive outcomes for others, themselves and the collective: Somerville House.