Wellbeing at Lindfield

Our Wellbeing program is based on mutual care and respect.

What is Wellbeing at Lindfield?

Tolerating difference, building empathy and understanding are all part of our Wellbeing program at Lindfield Prep.

The program is aimed at teaching students respect for one’s self, respect for others and respect for the environment. There is also a strong emphasis on assisting a student to come to a better understanding of himself and the world around him. In recognising his place within the world, we believe he will better be able to accept responsibilities and learn the qualities required for leadership.

The Mission Statement as part of the International Baccalaureate provides the inspiration and guidance for service and leadership at Lindfield. The IB “aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.” IB learners are also encouraged to become “active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.”

Second Step

Second Step is a program that addresses the social and emotional needs of young children in today’s society. Through a multi-modal approach that is tailored to the age of the children, students engage in learning experiences within the units: Skills for Learning, Empathy, Emotion Management and Friendship Skills and Problem-Solving. Lessons may include puppets, video, songs and singing, movement and dancing and thinking strategies depending on the grade level.

Building relationships across the year through the Buddy System

The Buddy Program pairs students in Kindergarten and Year 1 with students in Year 5 and Year 6. This mentoring system benefits both students. It allows the older students to develop social and leadership skills by collaborating with their younger peers and it gives our youngest Lindfield student the assurance that there is someone who will look out for them.

Teaching boys how to care through the PYP

The Mission Statement of the International Baccalaureate provides the inspiration and guidance for service and leadership at Lindfield. The IB “aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.” IB learners are also encouraged to become “active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.”

This powerful statement of intent is designed to encourage each and every boy to think beyond himself and his immediate environment and to see his place as part of a much greater global community – a community that has the potential to benefit greatly from his active citizenship.

All inquiries within the PYP are collaborations between the boys and teachers. This partnership is built upon trust and respect from the viewpoint of every contributor with every perspective seen as a valued perspective. When boys have reached this understanding, they are truly maturing as citizens who can make a genuine difference within their community.

The attributes of the IB Learner Profile include notions such as open-minded, caring, principled and reflective. These qualities are embedded into the everyday learning of each and every student.

At Lindfield, social and leadership service programs are informed by the Action element of the IB; this is when all transdisciplinary aspects of the PYP come together into a purposeful, positive action reflecting understanding, integrity and respect. It is these initiatives that demonstrate the boys’ true engagement with their learning, converting their knowledge and awareness into an action with the potential for untold benefit. At Lindfield these actions are cause for much celebration as boys live their understanding of what it is to care, to respect and to lead.

Collaboration and Competition

The House System provides opportunities for collaboration and competition amongst students across the years, in both sporting and academic areas. House games are played in all major sports and House Captains are elected by the students late in the year. House points are collected weekly, and there is always a great sense of excitement among the students as the cumulative point scores are revealed at the weekly assemblies and at the end of the year.

There are two Houses at Lindfield: Rydal (blue) and Kingswood (red). Both Houses are named after sister schools to Newington in the UK: Rydal on Colwyn Bay in North Wales; and Kingswood in Bath. Students are allocated to a House when they join the Prep School.

Fostering Empathy

Students, parents and teachers alike have been playing an active role within their communities to help bring about positive and meaningful change.

Service Learning at Lindfield is about helping our students begin to make active and positive contributions to the world around them. During the year, the Lindfield community looks to putting their ideals into action by taking part in a number of community initiatives.

Our Service-Learning program encourages students to actively contribute to resolving social and environmental problems in the world around them. It is hoped that they will gain a greater understanding of why such problems exist and realise that everyone can play a part in shaping a better world.

Supporting Student Welfare

Mr Sahil Sharma is the Counsellor (Educational Psychologist) for Lindfield Prep. He works across both preparatory campuses to counsel and assist students, parents and staff.

Mr Sahil Sharma’s services at Newington include: supporting staff in the wellbeing of all boys, working with staff to teach social skills to boys, assisting with the entry process of new boys, psycho-educational assessment of boys’ learning and academic progress, individual and group counselling of boys regarding issues that might impact on their school adjustment and the administration of anti-bullying surveys.

Referral to the counsellor is usually by teacher request and the service is confidential, within the limits of legal requirements for the protection of children.

For further information please contact the class teacher, school office or email Mr Sahil Sharma.